Atlanta Airport Code: Your Guide to ATL and Other Nearby Airports

If you’re flying into or out of Atlanta, Georgia, the airport code you’ll see most often is ATL. That code refers to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the primary airport serving the Atlanta metro area and one of the busiest airports in the world.

This guide breaks down what ATL means, how to use Atlanta’s airport codes when you book travel, and what locals and visitors should know about airports in and around the city.

The Main Airport Code for Atlanta: ATL

Airport code for Atlanta:ATL
Full name:Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

This is the airport you’ll almost always be using if:

  • You live in the City of Atlanta or metro Atlanta
  • You’re flying into Atlanta from another U.S. city or another country
  • You’re changing planes through Atlanta on a connection

You’ll see ATL on:

  • Boarding passes
  • Baggage tags
  • Flight search results
  • Airport signs and parking receipts

When an airline or travel site asks, “From/To which airport?” and you type Atlanta, it will usually auto-fill to ATL.

Basic Details for ATL (Atlanta’s Main Airport)

Location:
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is located just south of downtown Atlanta, primarily in Clayton County, with easy access from:

  • I-75
  • I-85
  • The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system

Typical address used for navigation:
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
6000 N Terminal Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30320

General airport information phone:
You can typically find updated contact numbers on official city or airport materials; many travelers rely on the airport’s main information line for flight and terminal questions.

Why Airport Codes Matter in Atlanta

Understanding airport codes helps you:

  • Make sure you’re flying into the right Atlanta (there are towns named Atlanta in other states with different codes)
  • Avoid confusion between Atlanta’s main airport (ATL) and smaller regional airports in the area
  • Read your itinerary, boarding passes, and baggage tags correctly

For people in Atlanta, the most common codes you’ll run into are:

  • ATL – Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (main passenger airport for Atlanta)
  • FTY – Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (general aviation, west of downtown Atlanta)
  • PDK – DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (general aviation, northeast of downtown)
  • CSG – Columbus Airport (regional alternative about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta)
  • CHA – Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (regional alternative to the north, in Tennessee)

Most commercial, scheduled passenger flights for Atlanta area residents still go through ATL.

Codes You’ll See at ATL

IATA vs. ICAO vs. Other Codes

The airport you know as ATL actually has several identifiers:

  • IATA code:ATL
    • Used by airlines, booking sites, and passengers
  • ICAO code:KATL
    • Used by air traffic control and pilots
  • FAA code:ATL
    • Used by the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S.

For everyday travelers in or to Atlanta, ATL is the only code you typically need to remember.

Terminals and Concourse References at ATL

While ATL is a single airport code, once you’re inside, you’ll see a lot of letter-based concourse designations. These aren’t separate airport codes, but it’s helpful to understand them:

  • Domestic Terminal – North and South
  • International Terminal – Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal (Concourse F)
  • Concourses: T, A, B, C, D, E, F

On your boarding pass, you might see something like:

  • ATL – Concourse B – Gate B12
  • ATL – International Terminal – Gate F5

That still means Atlanta, GA (ATL), just specifying where you need to go within the airport.

Quick Reference: Atlanta-Area Airport Codes

Here’s a simple overview of airport codes that matter most to people in and around Atlanta:

Airport NameCity / AreaPrimary UseCode TypeCode
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta InternationalAtlanta, GAMajor commercial passengerIATA/FAAATL
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta InternationalAtlanta, GAAir traffic control / aviationICAOKATL
Fulton County Airport – Brown FieldAtlanta (west side)General aviation, corporateFAAFTY
DeKalb–Peachtree AirportChamblee / NE AtlantaGeneral aviation, corporateFAA/IATAPDK
Columbus AirportColumbus, GARegional commercialIATACSG
Chattanooga Metropolitan AirportChattanooga, TNRegional commercialIATACHA

For normal airline travel to or from Atlanta, you will almost always book flights to/from ATL.

Using ATL When You Book Travel

When you’re booking flights and the system asks for an airport or city:

  • Typing “Atlanta” will usually show:
    • Atlanta, GA (ATL – Hartsfield–Jackson)
  • You can also directly type “ATL” to avoid confusion with other cities named Atlanta.

Tip for locals:
If you have out-of-town friends or family visiting, remind them to double-check that their ticket says ATL and specifically says “Atlanta, GA” as the airport location.

Getting To and From ATL in Atlanta

Once you know the airport code ATL, the next question is usually: “How do I get there from where I am in Atlanta?”

MARTA (Rail and Bus)

MARTA is one of the easiest ways to reach ATL from many parts of the city:

  • Airport Station is located inside the Domestic Terminal (at the end of the Red and Gold rail lines).
  • From Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, you can usually reach ATL in about 20–30 minutes by train.
  • For travelers arriving at the International Terminal (Concourse F), a free shuttle connects you to the MARTA Airport Station at the Domestic Terminal.

If you’re staying near a MARTA rail station, entering ATL as your destination for mapping will usually default to the airport’s rail stop or terminal address.

Driving and Rideshare

When entering directions in a GPS or map app, use:

  • “Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport”
  • Or the address: 6000 N Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30320

Rideshare drivers will almost always know “ATL” or “Atlanta airport” as a destination, but specifying Domestic vs. International Terminal is important.

Domestic vs. International at ATL

Although the airport code remains ATL, the experience differs depending on whether you’re flying within the U.S. or to/from another country.

Domestic Flights

  • Use the Domestic Terminal (North or South)
  • Airline check-in counters are divided between the North and South sides
  • Gates are in Concourses T, A, B, C, and D (and sometimes E)

International Flights

  • International departures and arrivals primarily use:
    • International Terminal (Concourse F)
    • Some international arrivals/departures also use Concourse E
  • Your boarding pass will list ATL as the airport code even if you’re flying to/from cities abroad; what changes is the concourse and gate.

Other Atlanta-Area Airports You Might See

Even though ATL is the main passenger hub, you might come across other airport codes if you’re dealing with private flights, charters, or local aviation.

Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (FTY)

  • Code:FTY
  • Location: West of downtown Atlanta, near I-20
  • Use: Primarily general aviation, corporate flights, charters, flight training

While travelers booking regular airline tickets typically won’t use FTY, locals sometimes see this code:

  • On aviation services
  • On smaller charter itineraries
  • In weather reports or flight tracking apps

DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK)

  • Code:PDK
  • Location: Chamblee, just northeast of Atlanta proper
  • Use: General aviation, corporate and private jets, some charter operations

People who live in Brookhaven, Chamblee, or Dunwoody may be very familiar with PDK, especially due to lower-flying aircraft overhead, but it is not Atlanta’s main commercial airport.

Common Questions About the Atlanta Airport Code

Is there more than one commercial airport code for Atlanta?

For typical airline passengers, no.
ATL is the primary commercial airport code for the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Codes like FTY and PDK refer to secondary, mostly general-aviation airports and are not used for major airline service to the city.

What if my ticket shows KATL instead of ATL?

Most standard passenger tickets will show ATL, but if you see KATL, that’s the ICAO code used for aviation operations. It still refers to the same Atlanta airport.

Are there other cities named Atlanta with different codes?

Yes. There are smaller towns named Atlanta in other states with their own airport codes (for small local airports).
If you are traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, make sure your ticket clearly lists ATL – Atlanta, GA.

Practical Tips for People Traveling Through ATL

  • Verify your code: Always double-check that your itinerary shows ATL for Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Check the concourse: At ATL, your gate/concourse (T, A, B, C, D, E, F) matters as much as the airport code, due to the airport’s size.
  • Plan transfer time: If you’re connecting at ATL, allow enough time to move between concourses using the Plane Train or the pedestrian walkway.
  • Clarify terminal in pickups: When arranging rides or pickups, specify:
    • “ATL Domestic Terminal, North/South” or
    • “ATL International Terminal (Concourse F)”

Remember: whether you’re a local, a frequent visitor, or flying through for the first time, ATL is the code you need to know for Atlanta’s main airport.