From Candler Field to Global Hub: The History of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the defining features of modern Atlanta. If you live in the metro area, you probably measure time and distance in relation to “the airport”, whether you’re picking up relatives at the Domestic Terminal or catching a flight out of the world’s busiest airport.

Understanding its history helps explain not just how the airport grew, but how Atlanta itself became a major transportation, business, and cultural hub of the Southeast.

Early Beginnings: Candler Field and the Birth of Atlanta Aviation

Long before it became Hartsfield–Jackson, the airport started humbly as Candler Field in the 1920s.

The racetrack that became a runway

• In 1925, the City of Atlanta leased an abandoned auto racetrack known as The Atlanta Speedway.
• The land had been owned by Asa Candler, the Coca‑Cola magnate and former Atlanta mayor, which is how it became known as Candler Field.
• At the time, Atlanta leaders were competing with other Southern cities to attract commercial aviation, viewing air travel as the next big economic engine—much like the railroads had been.

For locals today, this choice set the stage for the airport’s current location about 7 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, tightly linked to the city’s core rather than far out in the suburbs.

First scheduled flights

By 1926–1928, the first passenger and airmail flights were underway:

• Atlanta quickly emerged as a key stop on early mail routes, which attracted airlines and investment.
• Even then, the city marketed itself as a transportation crossroads, bridging the Southeast with the rest of the country.

If you drive along Virginia Avenue, Camp Creek Parkway, or International Boulevard today, you’re moving through an area that has been shaped by nearly a century of decisions to keep aviation close to the heart of the metro region.

Renaming and Growth: Atlanta Municipal Airport to Hartsfield

As aviation expanded, Candler Field evolved into a true municipal facility.

Atlanta Municipal Airport

By the 1930s and 1940s, the airfield became known as Atlanta Municipal Airport:

• The city began constructing more formal runways and basic terminal buildings.
• World War II accelerated development, as the U.S. military used Atlanta as a training and logistics site.
• Wartime investment meant better runways, better navigation facilities, and more aviation-related jobs in the region.

Many Atlantans of older generations still remember when the airport felt like a small-town facility where you could park close to the terminal and watch planes from the fence line.

Mayor William B. Hartsfield’s influence

The next major transformation was driven by Mayor William B. Hartsfield, who served multiple terms from the 1930s through the early 1960s.

He championed aviation as central to Atlanta’s growth strategy, pushing to:

• Secure more airline service
• Expand runways
• Position Atlanta as the aviation center of the South

In 1971, in recognition of his long-term efforts, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.

For residents, this era marked the point when the airport shifted from just another city facility to a defining piece of Atlanta’s identity, much like Peachtree Street or the interstate system.

The Jet Age and the Rise of a Major Hub

By the mid‑20th century, jet aircraft and new airline business models transformed the scale of air travel.

Atlanta becomes a Southeastern hub

From the 1960s through the 1980s, several key trends shaped the airport’s role:

• Larger, faster jets (like the Boeing 707 and later the 747 and wide‑body aircraft) required longer runways and expanded terminals.
• Airlines increasingly adopted hub‑and‑spoke systems, routing connecting flights through key cities.
• Atlanta’s central location in the Southeast, plus existing rail and highway connections, made it a natural hub.

For travelers today, the experience of connecting through Atlanta—getting off one flight at Concourse A, hopping a plane to a smaller Southern or international city—stems directly from this period.

International expansion

Atlanta’s growth into an international gateway accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s:

• The airport added more international flights to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, and later Asia and Africa.
• Facilities adapted to handle customs, immigration, and international baggage processing.

If you’ve walked through the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F) and cleared U.S. Customs there, you’re using infrastructure built to support the airport’s evolution from a regional stop to a full-scale global gateway.

The 1980 Terminal: A New Kind of Airport Design

One of the most important milestones in the airport’s history occurred in 1980, when a completely new terminal complex opened.

The “parallel concourse” layout

The 1980 design introduced a layout that helps Atlanta handle heavy traffic efficiently:

• A central landside terminal for check-in and security.
• Multiple parallel concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, and later F) for gates and boarding.
• The Plane Train, an automated underground train connecting all concourses and terminals.

This system is why:

• You can land at Concourse D and be at Concourse T or F in minutes.
• ATL can handle a huge number of flights per day without feeling as chaotic as a single long corridor terminal might.

For Atlantans and frequent travelers, this also means planning your airport timing around:

• Security wait times at the Domestic Main Security or the North and South checkpoints
• Plane Train rides between concourses
• Extra time if you’re parking at Park-Ride lots, using SkyTrain to the Rental Car Center, or arriving via MARTA’s Airport Station

From Hartsfield to Hartsfield–Jackson: Honoring Two Mayors

In 2003, the airport’s name changed again—to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Who was Maynard H. Jackson Jr.?

Maynard H. Jackson Jr., Atlanta’s first Black mayor, played a pivotal role in the airport’s modern development:

• He pushed for expanding and modernizing the airport in the 1970s and 1980s.
• He insisted that large city contracts, including those related to airport construction, include meaningful participation by minority-owned businesses.
• His policies helped reshape both the airport’s physical footprint and Atlanta’s economic equity landscape.

Renaming the airport Hartsfield–Jackson honors both:

• William B. Hartsfield – for making aviation central to Atlanta’s early growth.
• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. – for guiding it into the modern era and broadening who benefited from that growth.

For locals, the name on every highway sign—Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport—is a reminder of how civic leadership shaped the city’s main gateway.

Timeline Snapshot: Key Milestones in ATL’s History

Here’s a simple overview of major waypoints:

Runways, Capacity, and “World’s Busiest Airport” Status

One of the most notable aspects of Hartsfield–Jackson’s history is its position as one of the world’s busiest airports, often measured by passenger numbers and takeoffs/landings.

Why ATL became (and remains) so busy

A few historical factors explain this:

• Location: Within a few hours’ flight of most major U.S. cities east of the Mississippi.
• Hub operations: Airlines use Atlanta as a central connection point, especially for the Southeastern U.S.
• Runway capacity: The airport developed a system of multiple parallel runways, which allow many takeoffs and landings per hour.
• Regional economic growth: Atlanta’s growth as a business, media, convention, and logistics center continually feeds passenger demand.

For people living in the metro area, this translates into:

• Extensive non-stop options for domestic and international travel.
• Frequent early-morning and late-night flight banks, especially for connecting traffic.
• A high level of air cargo traffic, which supports local and regional businesses.

The International Terminal and Global Connections

A more recent chapter in ATL’s history is the development of a fully modern international facility.

Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)

Opened in 2012, this terminal reshaped how Atlanta handles global travel:

• Provides a dedicated international check‑in, security, and departure area on the east side of the airfield.
• Houses Concourse F, in addition to shared use of Concourse E for international flights.
• Includes customs and immigration facilities so passengers can clear U.S. entry in Atlanta even when connecting onward.

If you live in Atlanta and are:

• Departing internationally, you may start at the International Terminal rather than the Domestic side.
• Returning from abroad, you could arrive at Concourse F and then reconnect to a domestic flight via the Plane Train.

How the Airport’s History Shapes Today’s Traveler Experience

Many aspects of the day-to-day experience at Hartsfield–Jackson are direct results of its historical development.

Domestic vs. International layout

Because the airport evolved over decades with both domestic and international roles, you now see:

• Domestic Terminal (North and South): Main check‑in for U.S. carriers and most domestic flights.
• International Terminal: East side facility with its own parking and access roads, reflecting later-phase international growth.
• Seven concourses (T–F): Added over time as flight volumes increased.

When you’re planning a trip from Atlanta:

• Double‑check which terminal your airline uses.
• Plan parking, rideshare, or MARTA accordingly.
• Allow extra time if you’re unfamiliar with the Plane Train or walk times between concourses.

Ground transportation and nearby development

The airport’s long history has also shaped the surrounding communities:

• College Park, Hapeville, and East Point grew alongside aviation-related jobs.
• MARTA’s Airport Station was integrated into the Domestic Terminal, making rail a practical option from many parts of the city.
• Extensive hotel and conference development near the airport reflects its role as a national meeting and connecting point.

For Atlanta residents, this means:

• Reasonably easy transit access to the airport from areas served by MARTA rail.
• A cluster of park‑sleep‑fly style hotels and long-term parking options surrounding the airport.
• Ongoing noise, traffic, and construction impacts in neighborhoods near the airfield, tied to its constant evolution.

Civic Identity and Economic Impact

Throughout its history, Hartsfield–Jackson has been more than just a place to catch a plane—it’s a cornerstone of Atlanta’s identity.

“The city too busy to hate” and the airport

For decades, city leaders used the airport as a symbol of Atlanta’s:

• Forward-looking mindset
• Regional leadership in the South
• Commitment to commerce and connection

Mayors Hartsfield and Jackson both saw aviation as a tool to:

• Bring in investment and jobs
• Attract conventions, corporate headquarters, and tourism
• Position Atlanta as a gateway between the U.S. and the world

If you live here, you feel this history whenever:

• A major sporting event or convention fills flights in and out of ATL.
• The airport’s operations ripple across the city—through hotel bookings, restaurant traffic, and rideshare demand.
• Global corporations choose Atlanta in part because executives and employees can reach it easily.

Jobs and neighborhood impact

The airport’s development history also explains why it’s such a major employment center:

• Tens of thousands of jobs exist in and around the airport—airlines, TSA, concessionaires, cargo operations, maintenance, and more.
• Many residents of South Fulton, Clayton County, College Park, and Hapeville work in airport-related roles.

For people considering moving to or within Atlanta, proximity to Hartsfield–Jackson can mean:

• Shorter commutes if you work in aviation, hospitality, or logistics.
• Trade‑offs with aircraft noise and traffic vs. job access and convenience.

Practical Tips for Today’s Traveler, Informed by History

Knowing how and why Hartsfield–Jackson developed the way it did can help you navigate it more smoothly.

Planning your trip through ATL

• Allow enough time: Its role as a busy hub means lines and gate changes are common. Aim to arrive:
  • 2 hours early for domestic flights
  • 3 hours early for international flights
• Use MARTA when possible: The airport’s long‑standing integration with Atlanta’s transit system means:
  • Direct train service from Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead
  • Avoiding highway congestion on I‑75/85 near the airport
• Understand the concourses: Because the concourse system is a product of the 1980 design:
  • Expect to use the Plane Train frequently
  • Plan extra walking time if you prefer to use the underground walkways

Domestic vs. International Terminal access

Because the international facilities were added later:

• Driving to the wrong terminal can cost time.
• If you’re unsure whether to use the Domestic or International entrance:
  • Check your itinerary and airline details carefully.
  • When in doubt, many Atlantans default to the Domestic Terminal, then use internal connections to reach their concourse—especially if flying domestically after an international arrival.

Why the Airport’s History Matters to People in Atlanta

For anyone living in or visiting Atlanta, the story of Hartsfield–Jackson is really the story of how Atlanta became a modern global city:

• A former racetrack leased in 1925 evolved into a global aviation hub.
• Visionary mayors tied the city’s fate to air travel, helping create the modern metro economy.
• Continuous expansion shaped neighborhoods, jobs, transit, and the daily rhythms of life across the region.

Every time you:

• Watch planes line up over East Point or Forest Park,
• Ride MARTA straight into the Domestic Terminal,
• Or connect through Concourse A on your way overseas,

you’re experiencing the result of nearly a century of decisions that made Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport what it is today: one of Atlanta’s most important and influential landmarks—past, present, and future.