Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has maintained its position as the world’s busiest airport since 1998, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from OAG shows that as of October 2025, ATL had approximately 5. 4 million scheduled passenger seats, leading its closest competitor Dubai International Airport by 1. 4%. Despite its high passenger volume, ATL is not among the top 10 airports in terms of land area, both globally and within the United States. The city of Atlanta also has a smaller population compared to other major cities with busy airports, with only 520,000 residents.

ATL is strategically located to serve as a major hub for both domestic and international air traffic, with nearly 80% of the US population reachable within a 2-hour flight. This makes it an ideal location for the hub-and-spoke model, which is utilized by Delta Air Lines, the main carrier at ATL. Delta serves five continents and operates from all seven concourses at the airport. In September 2025, Delta and its regional affiliate, Delta Connection, transported over 225,000 passengers per day, with the majority of these passengers connecting through Atlanta.

Delta holds the majority market share at ATL, carrying 80% of all passengers in September. This includes 81% of the domestic market share and 77% of the international market. However, only 13% of Delta’s passenger traffic in Atlanta was international, highlighting the strength of its domestic network. Delta also has an extensive international footprint, connecting ATL to over 40 destinations across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This is made possible through strategic partnerships with other airlines, such as Air France-KLM, Korean Air, and LATAM.

Delta’s two busiest routes are also its most frequent, with up to 15 daily departures/arrivals to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). These routes are operated exclusively by the Airbus A321 and Boeing 757-200, respectively. Delta also has a significant presence of Boeing 717 aircraft at ATL, with 73% of its daily movements operated from the airport. The 717, known as a domestic workhorse, primarily operates short flights within the US.

Delta has a long history of valuing aircraft serving the middle market, such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, MD-80, and MD-95 (also known as the Boeing 717). However, with an average fleet age of 24 years, Delta will soon need to phase out its 717s and replace them with the newer Airbus A220. Other major players at ATL include low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, which held 6% and 4% of the market share in September, respectively.

Although Atlanta is not known as a major cargo hub, it still ranks 15th in the US for cargo landed weight