Atlanta airport announces $6 billion expansion plan

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by coolieandre

Why do people always say Atlanta Airport is a mess to navigate through.... I really think that`s haters wanting the lie to gain momentum. I`ve flown both domestic and internationally numerous times, and it`s very easy. Airports have to keep up and Airports are literally turning into malls with gates. The only delay is security but if your ass is late, that`s your fault!

I once knew someone who said that any airport where you have to take a train to get to your gate is inefficient.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

I once knew someone who said that any airport where you have to take a train to get to your gate is inefficient.

Small town/airport folks

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Small town/airport folks

IAH isn't as big as Atlanta, but its still around 10-12 in the country and you don't need to take a train to get around the terminal. They DO have an underground people mover and an above ground train, but I think I've used them once since the early 80s. And that was just because I had the kids and a lot of luggage.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

IAH isn't as big as Atlanta, but its still around 10-12 in the country and you don't need to take a train to get around the terminal. They DO have an underground people mover and an above ground train, but I think I've used them once since the early 80s. And that was just because I had the kids and a lot of luggage.

HJAIA has moving sidewalks between the terminals. HJAIA design of midfield allows it to be the world's most efficient airport.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by bu2

IAH isn't as big as Atlanta, but its still around 10-12 in the country and you don't need to take a train to get around the terminal. They DO have an underground people mover and an above ground train, but I think I've used them once since the early 80s. And that was just because I had the kids and a lot of luggage.

I've made several connections and O&D arrival/departures at IAH this year.

I must disagree. For O&D it is spread out and there are multiple terminals. As long as you go to your terminal, it is not a big deal. I also learn this as I have co-workers that frequently fly in different routes, so we will gather in a central place and re-split when it is time to go to our gates. The only downside for O&D is this de-centralizes ground transportation into those weird mini-curbsides and there is more waiting involved there.

For connections... it can actually be quite a hike, depending on what terminals you must move between. The airport is split into different terminals that were built piece-meal over time, like many airports were. If you have to switch terminals, which many do, the hike can potentially be sizable.

IAH isn't a small airport by any means, but it still carries only 40% of the capacity ATL does, and many of my connections have involved further walks.

The thing about ATL is every criticism boils down to how busy it is. What ATL continues to excel at is putting as many gates as possible as close together as each other. They then build a very fast moving train system to connect them all. Yes, it is an all roads lead to Rome funnel, but you can get from the furthest gate to the furthest gate in a relatively quick time for how many gates/flights the airport has. It is a critical reason why it has won so many awards for efficiency specifically.

I will give props to IAH for taking the time to make sure all their terminals are connected on the secure side and they do have their skytrain. None of that craziness where one must exist one terminals and re-enter another and re-go through security at some of the nation's oldest airports exists.

[cqholt]

Investments into the World's Busiest and Most Efficient Airport continue with the announcement of improvements to The Plane Train.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport plans to spend $58 million to buy more Plane Train cars to add to the people-mover system’s capacity.

Buying the cars is part of a much more complex project to expand Plane Train capacity, which will require extending the track to allow room for trains that arrive at the domestic terminal to turn back in the other direction more quickly.Airport officials say the project to extend the Plane Train system will cost $260 million, down from an earlier estimate of more than $300 million.

https://www.ajc.com/blog/airport/har...yXFkHbho3przH/