Atlanta Airport Abbreviation: What ATL, Hartsfield–Jackson, and All Those Codes Really Mean

If you’re flying into or out of Atlanta, you’ll see a lot of different airport abbreviations: ATL, Hartsfield–Jackson, Domestic, International, and more. Knowing what these codes and names mean makes it much easier to book flights, find your gate, and get around the airport smoothly.

This guide breaks down the Atlanta airport abbreviation, how it’s used, and what else you should know as a traveler or resident using Atlanta’s main airport.

The Main Atlanta Airport Abbreviation: ATL

The primary Atlanta airport abbreviation you’ll see everywhere is ATL.

ATL is the IATA airport code for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is Atlanta’s main commercial airport.

You’ll see ATL used in:

• Airline booking websites and apps
• Boarding passes and e-tickets
• Baggage tags
• Flight information displays
• Rideshare and GPS apps when you type “ATL”

Key takeaway:
If your flight says you’re arriving at or departing from ATL, that means Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

Full Name vs. Abbreviation: Hartsfield–Jackson vs. ATL

Atlanta’s main airport has a long official name:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

But in everyday use, people usually say:

• ATL
• Atlanta airport
• Hartsfield–Jackson

They all refer to the same airport, located just south of downtown Atlanta in Clayton County, near College Park.

Why is it called Hartsfield–Jackson?

The name honors two former Atlanta mayors:

• William B. Hartsfield
• Maynard H. Jackson Jr.

For travel purposes, you don’t have to use the full name. When you’re searching flights, checking in, or telling someone where you’re landing, “ATL” is enough.

Airport Codes You Might See for Atlanta

When you’re dealing with flights, you might run into different kinds of codes. For Atlanta, ATL is the one most travelers need, but here’s a quick breakdown.

IATA Code: ATL

• IATA code:ATL
• Used by: Airlines, travel websites, booking systems
• Where you’ll see it: Boarding passes, baggage tags, booking confirmations

This is the main Atlanta airport abbreviation you should know.

ICAO Code: KATL

For more technical aviation purposes, there’s another code:

• ICAO code:KATL
• Used by: Air traffic control, pilots, flight planning tools
• Where you might see it: Aviation maps, flight-tracking sites, pilot information

If you’re a regular traveler in or out of Atlanta, you rarely need KATL. ATL is the everyday code.

FAA Code: ATL

For U.S. aviation administration purposes:

• FAA code:ATL
• Same as the IATA code in this case
• Used in U.S. aviation records and systems

Terminals, Concourses, and Other Atlanta Airport Abbreviations

Once you’re at ATL, you’ll see even more abbreviations. These are mostly about terminals and concourses.

Domestic vs. International Terminal

Hartsfield–Jackson has two main terminal areas:

• Domestic Terminal
  • Located on the west side of the airport
  • Split into North (N) and South (S) sides
• International Terminal (Concourse F)
  • Located on the east side of the airport
  • Sometimes labeled as the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal

You might see things like:

• ATL Domestic North or ATL Domestic South on rideshare apps
• ATL International or ATL F on signs and pickup/drop-off directions

If you’re flying within the U.S., you’ll almost always use the Domestic Terminal.
If you’re flying to or from another country, you’ll likely use the International Terminal (F).

Concourse Letters (A, B, C, D, E, F, T)

After you pass through security, ATL is organized into concourses, each identified by a single letter:

• T – Terminal (closest to Domestic Terminal)
• A, B, C, D – Main domestic concourses
• E – Primarily international, but can also handle domestic flights
• F – International Terminal / Concourse F

On your boarding pass, your gate might look like:

• A17 – Concourse A, Gate 17
• T5 – Concourse T, Gate 5
• F3 – Concourse F (International), Gate 3

These letter codes are inside ATL and help you navigate once you’re already at the airport.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Airport Codes and Abbreviations

Address, GPS, and How ATL Appears in Maps

If you’re driving or taking a rideshare to the airport, the ATL abbreviation often appears along with the address or name.

Official ATL Airport Address

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6000 North Terminal Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30320

For the International Terminal, many services also recognize:

International Terminal (Concourse F)
2600 Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30354

You can type “ATL”, “Atlanta airport”, or the full name into most map apps and they’ll route you correctly.

Using ATL When Booking Flights

When you’re booking a trip to or from Atlanta, you’ll usually enter:

• From: ATL – Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International
• To: (Your destination airport code, for example) LAX, JFK, MIA, ORD, etc.

✅ Tip:
If a site shows multiple “Atlanta” options, the main airport for commercial passenger flights is ATL. Smaller regional or private airports near Atlanta have different codes and are not the same as ATL.

Other Airports Near Atlanta (and Why Their Codes Matter)

While ATL is the primary commercial airport, there are other airports in the metro Atlanta area. These usually serve general aviation, charter, corporate, or limited commercial service.

A few examples (for awareness only):

• DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK) – Mainly general aviation
• Cobb County International Airport (RYY) – General aviation
• Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (FTY) – General aviation

If you’re a typical traveler flying on major airlines, you’ll almost always use ATL, not these other airport codes.

Common Questions About Atlanta Airport Abbreviations

1. Is ATL the same as Hartsfield–Jackson?

Yes. ATL is the airport code for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. They are simply different ways to refer to the same airport.

2. Why does my ticket say ATL if I land at the International Terminal?

The airport code ATL covers the entire airport—Domestic and International. Even if you arrive at the International Terminal (Concourse F), your airport code will still be ATL.

3. What abbreviation should I give a friend picking me up?

Give them:

• The airport code: ATL
• Your terminal type: Domestic or International
• Your airline and, if helpful, the concourse letter (A, B, C, etc.)

For example:
“I’m landing at ATL, Domestic Terminal, Concourse B.”

4. Is there an “ATL airport code” for the city itself?

ATL is the code for Atlanta’s main airport, not the city as a whole. However, people often use it as shorthand in a travel context to mean “Atlanta.”

Helpful ATL Contact Information for Travelers

If you need official information while traveling to or from Atlanta’s airport, these contacts are commonly used.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6000 North Terminal Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30320
Main airport information line: (800) 897-1910 (commonly listed for travel information)

For TSA and security checkpoint questions, travelers often refer to TSA Contact Center:

• Phone: (866) 289-9673

For airline-specific abbreviation details (such as their ticket codes, check-in counters at ATL, or concourse locations), it’s best to contact your airline’s Atlanta customer service desk or check your airline’s app.

Understanding the Atlanta airport abbreviation ATL—and how it connects to Hartsfield–Jackson, the terminals, and the concourses—helps you book the right flights, show up at the correct terminal, and move around the airport with confidence whenever you’re traveling through Atlanta, Georgia.