Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) began new operating hours on March 2. ATL’s Domestic and International Terminals, the SkyTrain, Rental Car Center and parking decks will be open daily to the general public from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Although the world’s busiest and most efficient airport never closes, access to the facility between 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. will be restricted to ticketed airline passengers, individuals meeting, accompanying or assisting passengers, and authorized personnel.
“This new directive will enhance Hartsfield-Jackson’s safety and security, operations and facility maintenance efforts, and will allow our overnight crews the ability to thoroughly clean the public areas of the airport,” said Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. “We are working with our airline and concessionaire partners to implement a policy that is similar to like-sized airports across the country.”
The change comes as a result of an increasing volume of passengers, visitors, and ongoing ATLNext construction projects at the Airport’s campus. The new operating hours will improve safety during overnight construction periods and provide maintenance and custodial teams with access to high-volume areas for proper upkeep and cleaning.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Reagan National (DCA), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (JFK and LGA) have implemented similar hours-of-operation policies.