Does Atlanta Have Two Airports? A Local’s Guide to Flying In and Out of the City

If you’ve heard people say Atlanta has more than one airport, you’re not alone. The short answer is: Atlanta is officially served by one major commercial airport, but there are multiple other airports in the metro area that handle private, regional, and limited commercial flights.

Understanding the difference can make your trip smoother—especially if someone tells you to “fly into Atlanta” but doesn’t specify which airport.

The Main Answer: Atlanta Has One Primary Commercial Airport

When most people say they’re “flying to Atlanta,” they mean:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Location: South of downtown Atlanta, mainly in Hapeville and College Park
• Address: 6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
• Role: Atlanta’s main commercial airport and one of the busiest airports in the world

This is the airport served by nearly all major U.S. and international airlines. If you are booking:

• Domestic flights to/from Atlanta
• International flights
• Most business or vacation travel

…you will almost always be flying into or out of ATL.

So, does Atlanta have two airports?
It has one primary commercial airport (ATL), plus a network of secondary and regional airports in the metro area.

Why People Ask If Atlanta Has Two Airports

The confusion usually comes from:

1. Different names for the same airport

   • Some people say “Hartsfield,” “Jackson,” or just “Atlanta Airport,” but they’re all talking about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

2. Other nearby airports branded as “Atlanta”

   • Several regional airports use “Atlanta” in their marketing (for example, to attract budget airlines or private flyers), even though they’re in nearby cities.

3. Private vs. commercial usage

   • Locals who fly private, corporate, or charter flights may regularly use other airports around metro Atlanta and casually refer to them as “the other Atlanta airport.”

Key Airports Around Atlanta: At a Glance

Here’s a simple overview to help you see how they compare:

*Approximate road distance; driving times vary with Atlanta traffic.

Only ATL handles large-scale commercial airline service for the Atlanta area. The others mainly serve private, corporate, flight school, and charter traffic.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

What Makes ATL the Primary Airport?

ATL is Atlanta’s main gateway for:

• Major airlines and low-cost carriers
• Domestic flights to nearly every region of the U.S.
• International routes across Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond
• Connections for travelers passing through the Southeast

If you:

• Live in the city and book regular airline tickets
• Are visiting Atlanta for business, conventions, or events
• Are catching an international flight

…you will almost certainly use ATL.

Terminals and Layout

ATL has two main passenger terminal complexes:

• Domestic Terminal (North and South sides)
• International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal) on the east side

They connect to multiple concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, F) via an underground train. Most passengers don’t need to worry about other airports at all—just making sure they get to the right terminal and concourse at ATL.

Getting to ATL from Around Atlanta

Common ways Atlanta residents and visitors reach ATL:

• MARTA Rail:

  • Airport Station is directly inside the Domestic Terminal.
  • Trains on the Red and Gold lines go straight to the airport.

• Rideshare & taxis:

  • Designated areas for pick-up/drop-off at both Domestic and International terminals.

• Driving and parking:

  • On-site parking (daily, hourly, economy)
  • Nearby off-airport lots with shuttles

If your ticket says ATL as the airport code, you are going to Hartsfield-Jackson—not any of the smaller field airports.

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK): The “Other” Atlanta Airport for Private Flights

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) is the second-busiest airport in Georgia by aircraft movements, but it does not function like ATL for regular airline passengers.

• Location: Chamblee / Brookhaven area, northeast of Atlanta
• Address: 2000 Airport Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341
• Type: General aviation (no large scheduled commercial airlines)

Who Actually Uses PDK?

PDK is commonly used by:

• Private aircraft owners and pilots
• Corporate jets and business travelers on charter flights
• Air ambulance and public safety operations
• Flight schools and training flights

If someone in metro Atlanta books a private charter or air taxi, they may be flying in or out of PDK instead of ATL. Locals who do this regularly may casually refer to it as “the other Atlanta airport,” which can cause confusion for visitors.

For most consumers booking regular commercial tickets on major airlines, PDK will not show up as an option.

Other Metro Atlanta Airports You Might Hear About

While they are not typically used for standard airline travel into Atlanta, it helps to know the names in case they appear in directions, local conversations, or business arrangements.

Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (FTY)

• Location: West of downtown Atlanta
• Address: 3952 Aviation Cir NW, Atlanta, GA 30336
• Role: General aviation, corporate, and charter flights

Commonly used by businesses and private flyers wanting quick access to Downtown, West Midtown, or the I‑20/I‑285 corridor without the congestion of ATL.

Cobb County International Airport – McCollum Field (RYY)

• Location: Kennesaw, serving Cobb County and northwest suburbs
• Address: 1723 McCollum Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
• Role: Private and corporate flights, some flight training

Useful if you’re based in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, or Woodstock and working with a charter or corporate operator.

Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field (FFC)

• Location: Peachtree City, south of Atlanta
• Address: 7 Falcon Dr, Peachtree City, GA 30269
• Role: Business and private aviation for the south metro area

Frequently used by companies and residents in Fayette County and surrounding communities.

Gwinnett County Airport – Briscoe Field (LZU)

• Location: Lawrenceville, northeast of Atlanta
• Address: 600 Briscoe Blvd, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
• Role: General aviation, private aircraft, and flight schools

Serves the Gwinnett County area. At times, there has been discussion about limited commercial service, but it primarily handles non-airline flights.

Which Airport Should You Use?

If you are:

• Booking a regular airline ticket with a major carrier
• Flying internationally in or out of Georgia
• Visiting Atlanta for tourism, events, or business
• Connecting to another flight in the U.S. or abroad

➡️ You should expect to use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

If you are:

• Chartering a private jet
• Flying for corporate or business aviation on a charter agreement
• Taking flight training or flying your own small aircraft

➡️ You may use PDK, FTY, RYY, FFC, or LZU, depending on where in metro Atlanta you’re based and what your operator recommends.

For most consumers and visitors, thinking of Atlanta as having one main airport (ATL) plus several secondary general-aviation airports is the most accurate and practical way to understand the setup.

Practical Tips When You See “Atlanta” in Flight Details

Here’s how to avoid mix-ups when planning travel to or from Atlanta:

• Check the airport code:

  • ATL = Hartsfield-Jackson, the big commercial airport
  • Codes like PDK, FTY, RYY, FFC, LZU = smaller general aviation fields

• Confirm with your airline or charter company:

  • For commercial tickets, verify the departure and arrival airport on your confirmation email.
  • For private or corporate trips, your operator will tell you which airport and FBO (Fixed Base Operator) you’ll use.

• Plan your ground transportation accordingly:

  • Driving from PDK or FTY to Midtown or Downtown is different from going to/from ATL.
  • Check the address in your rideshare or GPS app before you leave.

• If someone just says “fly into Atlanta”:

  • If they mean a regular airline flight, they almost always mean ATL.
  • If they work in corporate aviation or charters, ask them to confirm which airport to avoid arriving at the wrong one.

In everyday terms: Atlanta does not have two major airline airports. It has one primary commercial airport—Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL)—plus several smaller airports around the metro area that serve private, corporate, and training flights. For almost all standard air travel, you’ll be using ATL.