- Terminals
- Domestic and International terminals; concourses T and A–F
- Distance to city
- About 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Atlanta
- Getting downtown
- MARTA train (~20 min), taxi, rideshare
- Min. connection time
- From ~45–60 min — the Plane Train links concourses quickly
- Wi-Fi
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International is consistently the busiest airport in the world by passenger numbers, and the primary hub for Delta Air Lines. Despite its size, it is one of the easier mega-hubs to connect through, thanks to a simple linear layout and the underground Plane Train that links every concourse.
This guide covers the concourse layout, the Plane Train, and getting downtown on MARTA.
Terminals & Concourses
ATL has a Domestic Terminal (west and south sides) and an International Terminal (Concourse F, on the east), plus concourses T and A through F arranged in parallel. All concourses are connected airside by the Plane Train (an automated underground people mover) and a parallel walkway, so connections rarely require leaving security.
Delta dominates most concourses; international arrivals use Concourse F, where you clear customs. A domestic connection after an international arrival means clearing customs, re-checking bags, and riding the Plane Train to your departure concourse.
The Plane Train
The Plane Train runs underground beneath the concourses, stopping at each one (T, A, B, C, D, E, F). It is frequent, fast, and free, and is the key to ATL's manageable connections — you can cross the entire airport in well under 15 minutes. There is also a walkway with art and music if you prefer to walk between nearby concourses.
Getting To & From Downtown
| Option | Time to downtown Atlanta | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MARTA train | ~20 min | The station is at the Domestic Terminal; direct, cheap, and reliable. |
| Taxi | 20–35 min | Flat-rate to downtown zones; traffic-dependent. |
| Rideshare | 20–35 min | Designated pickup at the terminals. |
Planning a flight through ATL?
Estimate your flight time and compare fares before you book — then find a hotel right by the airport for early departures and long layovers.
Layovers & Connections
Thanks to the Plane Train, domestic connections at ATL can work from about 45–60 minutes despite the airport's scale. International-to-domestic connections need more time for customs and bag re-checking. For a long layover, MARTA reaches downtown Atlanta in about 20 minutes, so a city trip is feasible on 5+ hours.
The airport has extensive dining (including local Atlanta favourites), lounges, and art installations along the concourse walkways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite being the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta (ATL) is one of the easier mega-hubs because all concourses (T, A–F) are linked airside by the free underground Plane Train. Domestic connections can work from about 45–60 minutes; international-to-domestic connections need more time for customs and bag re-checking.