If you’ve heard people talk about “Atlanta’s airports” in the plural, it’s natural to wonder: Does Atlanta have 2 airports?
The short answer: Atlanta is primarily served by one major commercial airport—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)—but there are several other airports in the metro area that handle general aviation, private flights, and some limited commercial or charter activity.
Understanding the difference can save you confusion (and the occasional wrong Uber drop-off) whether you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or are planning a trip.
For almost all regular travelers, Atlanta = Hartsfield-Jackson.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
This is the airport you’ll use if you are:
ATL has two main landside terminal areas:
Concourse areas (T, A, B, C, D, E, F) are all connected airside by the Plane Train and pedestrian tunnels.
From within the Atlanta area, you can reach ATL by:
For most people asking whether Atlanta has two airports, the important point is this:
Not in the same way some cities do.
Some metro areas have two large commercial airports (for example, one on each side of town). In Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson is the only major commercial airport with large-scale passenger service.
However, there are several other airports in the Atlanta metro region that sometimes get called “Atlanta airports,” especially by locals, private pilots, or charter services. These often cause confusion when someone hears “Atlanta has more than one airport.”
Most of these airports focus on:
If you’re a typical airline passenger using standard bookings, these other airports are not where your ticket will send you.
Here’s a look at the main airports in the greater Atlanta area and how they might matter to you.
Often simply called “Peachtree-DeKalb” or “PDK,” this is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the region.
DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK)
Who uses PDK?
What you won’t usually find at PDK:
If someone says, “I’m flying into Atlanta but not using Hartsfield,” they may be arriving at PDK via a charter or private flight.
Located on the west side of Atlanta, this airport serves corporate and general aviation traffic.
Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (FTY)
Who uses FTY?
Like PDK, this is not a mainstream commercial airline airport, but it is a key part of metro Atlanta’s aviation network.
Serving the northwest suburbs, especially Kennesaw and Cobb County, this is another important general aviation airport.
Cobb County International Airport – McCollum Field (RYY)
Common uses include:
Several airports in the extended metro area can show up in discussions about “Atlanta-area airports,” especially for people who live in the suburbs or use private/charter flights:
These points are mainly relevant if you:
They generally do not offer major commercial airline service.
Below is a simple overview to clarify how these airports differ for typical travelers.
| Airport Name | Code | Location (relative to ATL) | Main Use Type | Commercial Airline Flights? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International | ATL | South of Downtown Atlanta | Major commercial & international | Yes – primary hub |
| DeKalb-Peachtree Airport | PDK | Northeast (Chamblee) | General aviation, corporate, charter | No |
| Fulton County Airport – Brown Field | FTY | West of Downtown | General aviation, corporate, charter | No |
| Cobb County Int’l – McCollum Field | RYY | Northwest (Kennesaw) | General aviation, corporate | No |
| Gwinnett County Airport – Briscoe Field | LZU | Northeast (Lawrenceville) | General aviation | No |
Key takeaway:
For commercial airline travel, Atlanta effectively has one main airport: ATL.
For private, corporate, or charter flying, the region has multiple airports that support the city’s broader air traffic.
It’s helpful to remind guests:
For private or business aviation around Atlanta, you or your provider may choose airports based on:
In those situations, you may intentionally avoid ATL to reduce congestion and streamline ground transportation.
Since ATL is the primary airport for most people, it also connects directly into how you get around Atlanta:
If you land at one of the general aviation airports, ground transport is typically:
These airports are not set up like ATL with large-scale transit and shuttle systems, so planning ahead is useful.
For standard commercial airline travelers:
Atlanta effectively has one primary airport – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
For aviation as a whole (including private, corporate, and charter):
The Atlanta metro area has multiple airports, including PDK, FTY, RYY, and others, but they mainly serve general aviation, not regular airline passengers.
If you’re flying into or out of Atlanta on a regular airline ticket, assume you’re using ATL, check the “ATL” code on your reservation, and plan your ground transportation based on that airport.
