Atlanta air traffic
Jun 3, 2019, 4:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 28
Atlanta air traffic
I live in Georgia and go through Hartsfield multiple times a year. Am staying at the Marriott Airport tonight as I usually do before going to India. My window view is showing the vast number of take offs each few minutes with some times planes from both runways side by side. Yes, Atlanta is the most busy airport. It is mind boggling.
Jun 3, 2019, 5:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
Arguably ATL is the most efficient airport ammongst AOS (airports of size)..
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
45 years later the only thing they really missed was the huge expansion in international flight. Back in the 70s, ATL international was "regional". True long haul was via the international gateways, not ATL. Even so, the international expansion has gone well, other than the groundside I<>D that sucks.
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
45 years later the only thing they really missed was the huge expansion in international flight. Back in the 70s, ATL international was "regional". True long haul was via the international gateways, not ATL. Even so, the international expansion has gone well, other than the groundside I<>D that sucks.
Jun 3, 2019, 6:30 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
And it might not be there in its current form if Birmingham did not "fumble" it away...
https://www.cbs42.com/news/cbs-42-in...lta/1180005047
https://www.cbs42.com/news/cbs-42-in...lta/1180005047
Jun 3, 2019, 6:47 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
ATL is by far the most efficient airport I can think of that is very large. DTW is pretty good as well.
The flow of traffic, runway and taxiway ops are great. Just hope for no thunderstorms.
The flow of traffic, runway and taxiway ops are great. Just hope for no thunderstorms.
Jun 3, 2019, 6:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
It is remarkable what happens at ATL every day, if you step back and think about it. They do a superb job there overall. Considering all the renovations yet I never really was inconvenienced in any way.
Jun 3, 2019, 8:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,360
ATL is definitely quite efficient, and I think a fair part of it's success while continuing to grow is the end around taxiway on Runway 8R. It saves hundreds of runway crossings a day, and those crossings can take quite long at other airports like JFK.
Jun 4, 2019, 3:43 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
As ATL is my home airport.. I too can say they do a great job..and of course the best part is that most of AA flights are out of the T gates.. which of course mean no "plane train"
Jun 4, 2019, 7:57 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
What? I like the plane train. Maybe just to see all the people that don't heed the warnings to hold on and then they almost fall over when it starts to move.
Jun 4, 2019, 8:36 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,292
Delta is, by far, the best large hub to change gates IMHO. It doesn't matter if you are the farthest away from where you need to go, with the plane train and just walking it should never take more than 20 minutes to get where you need to depart. Plus, for a large hub, you don't wait in line for takeoff as long as other hubs (Phoenix, Charlotte and Chicago come to mind).
Jun 4, 2019, 8:52 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,221
Arguably ATL is the most efficient airport ammongst AOS (airports of size)..
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
Jun 4, 2019, 9:01 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
I also think they got really lucky with the timing of ATL. Had it been earlier, it's likely they wouldn't have gone with 4 parallel runways (did it always have 4?) and now a 5th. Back then, many airports had crosswind runways (i.e. ORD), but with the advent of the jet age, planes became a lot more crosswind tolerant. There are still many major airports in the US that are constrained due to crossing crosswind runways. SFO, LGA, BOS, DCA, etc.
Jun 4, 2019, 9:29 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,052
Arguably ATL is the most efficient airport ammongst AOS (airports of size)..
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
I always question to what extent that was pure luck. Did they realize back in the 70s that the then common spoke system has issues? Or were they just trying to fit it in the space so went the T-A-B-C-D linear setup? Do not know.
Look at all of the airport terminals around the world designed by big "name" architecture firms like Norman Foster & Associates or Richard Rogers Partnership/Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, etc (HKG, PEK, the never-built MEX, LHR T5). They are glamorous and glitzy, and they get a lot of press, especially in the design industry. But they don't work nearly as efficiently as ATL. Stephens & Wilkinson designed a giant factory for moving a LOT of people, and they totally succeeded.