If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta, Georgia or you live here and are wondering about flight options, you might ask: “Are there 2 airports in Atlanta?”
The short answer:
Below is a clear breakdown of what that means for you when you’re getting to and around Atlanta by air.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is Atlanta’s primary—and essentially only—major commercial airport.
If you’re flying on a regular airline (Delta, Southwest, American, United, etc.), you are almost certainly flying into or out of ATL.
This is the airport connected to MARTA rail service, large parking decks, rental car facilities, and most hotel shuttles. It’s the airport most flight search engines will show when you enter “Atlanta.”
In everyday conversation, some people say Atlanta has “two airports” because they’re thinking about:
However, within the Atlanta city limits, there is only one major airport that serves commercial airline passengers: ATL.
What confuses people is that the Atlanta metropolitan area is surrounded by several other airports (often in nearby cities like College Park, Chamblee, or Peachtree City). These are very useful for private, business, flight training, or charter flights, but most travelers never use them.
Here’s a handy summary of the main airports serving the greater Atlanta area and what they’re typically used for:
| Airport Name | Code | Primary Use | Typical Traveler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport | ATL | Major commercial flights (domestic + international) | Most visitors and residents flying airlines |
| DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (Chamblee) | PDK | General aviation, business jets, charters, flight training | Private/charter flyers, corporate travel |
| Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (near I-20/I-285 west) | FTY | General aviation, corporate, air taxi | West-side corporate/charter users |
| Cobb County International Airport – McCollum Field (Kennesaw) | RYY | General aviation, regional business aviation | Northwest metro-area users |
| Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field (Peachtree City) | FFC | General aviation, flight schools, private use | Southside general aviation users |
For airline tickets and regular commercial flights, ATL is the airport you care about. The others are specialty/general aviation airports, not full-service commercial hubs.
ATL is one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger volume. For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, it is:
When you type “Atlanta” into a booking site, ATL is what you get.
If a friend says, “What time does your flight arrive in Atlanta?” they mean Hartsfield–Jackson.
ATL is structured around:
You don’t need to change airports for a connection within Atlanta—everything is inside ATL.
For getting around Atlanta, ATL is well connected:
If you’re staying inside the Perimeter (I-285) or in common hotel areas like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or near the airport, ATL is the airport that makes sense.
Some people think of DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK) as “Atlanta’s other airport,” especially if they work in business aviation or use charters.
PDK is commonly used by:
If you’re just visiting Atlanta and booking a ticket on a major airline, you will not normally fly into PDK. But if you’re:
PDK is a major hub for that in the Atlanta area.
While they’re not “Atlanta airports” in the commercial sense, it’s helpful to know about nearby options if you’re in aviation, business travel, or charter services.
This is often used by:
Popular with people and businesses based in Cobb County, Kennesaw, Marietta, and the northwest suburbs.
Often used by southside residents and companies in Peachtree City, Fayetteville, and surrounding communities.
For most people getting here and around Atlanta, you only need to think about ATL.
You might need to pay attention to the other airports if:
In those cases, you’ll want to confirm:
✈️ Booking a regular airline ticket?
Plan on Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
🚆 Want easy access by public transit?
ATL is your best bet, with direct MARTA rail service.
🚗 Live in the metro area and flying private or charter?
Ask your provider whether they use PDK, FTY, RYY, or FFC, depending on where you’re located.
🧭 Confused by search results?
If you see ATL, that’s the main Atlanta airport. If your itinerary lists PDK, FTY, RYY, or FFC, you’re dealing with a general aviation or charter flight, not standard airline service.
In practical terms, Atlanta has one primary commercial airport—Hartsfield–Jackson (ATL)—plus several smaller regional and general aviation airports in the surrounding metro area. For almost all visitors and residents flying on major airlines, ATL is the airport you’ll be using.
