Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s new International terminal was the focus at a recent luncheon of The Rotary Club of Peachtree City. Luis Miller, the general manager of one of the busiest airports in the world was the guest speaker.
Currently there are approximately 950,000 flights a year with an average of 250,000 daily passengers. The forecast for the International terminal is 13 million passengers by 2015.
It is estimated that the changes at the airport will create 2,000 to 3000 jobs. The opening of the new terminal F is set for spring 2012. Adding 12 gates, it will consist of 1.2 million square feet.
The new international terminal will connect to the E concourse creating a 140 gate international complex. One of the biggest benefits will be the elimination of re-checking bags when going through customs and security.
You will have to exit off of Interstate 75 for access to the new terminal instead of Interstate 85. Mr. Miller says if you make that mistake, you can be sure it will only happen once. Seventy percent of traffic through the airport comes from north of I-20.
The airport will be spending close to $10 million to change existing roadway signs as well as new ones, so it will be well marked. Those taking the MARTA train will have to get off at the domestic side.
There will be a 12 minute shuttle that will go back and forth between domestic and international terminals. Eventually, separate levels for arrivals and departures will be added to alleviate some of the traffic. New parking structures will also be added creating 3,500 spaces.
In addition, Southwest airlines service begins February 12th. Southwest is the largest domestic-only carrier and services 40 new cities that AirTran currently does not, 29 of which are west of Atlanta.
According to Mr. Miller, the total lineup of 125 concessions and the addition of rest accommodations and sleep units will greatly enhance the travel experience for all passengers traveling through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
