PHOTOS: Hartsfield-Jackson over the years

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PHOTOS: Hartsfield-Jackson over the years

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internation Airport celebrates 100 years of operation.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, known as the world's busiest airport, celebrates 100 years. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

The old, abandoned Atlanta Raceway became the city's new airport in 1925. Named Candler Field for its former owner, Coca-Cola magnate and former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler, the airport welcomed its first airplane arrival in September 1926.

Planes arrive at Candler Field, Atlanta Municipal Airport, in 1939.

Atlanta Municipal Airport is in the midst of improvements on Dec. 1, 1941, days before U.S. entry into World War II.

July 1947 original caption: "The new passenger terminal at Atlanta Municipal Airport is nearing completion. It will be ready for use in two months with a large restaurant and conference lounge."

This 1953 postcard said Atlanta Municipal Airport was one of the nation's four busiest airports. Today Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest.

Dec. 20, 1956, original photo caption: "Air transportation booms for the holidays, with long lines at every ticket window. Passengers are shown at the Atlanta Airport terminal where morning fog delayed many planes."

Surveyors navigate the new terminal location at the Atlanta Municipal Airport in 1961.

In this photo, the Atlanta Municipal Airport terminal building is in the process of being relocated in 1961.

Steps to the old Airport terminal lead to nowhere. If you're looking for the terminal, it's wa-a-y in the background. (Dwight Ross Jr / AJC staff) 1961

By the early '60s, a growing Atlanta needed a bigger, more modern airport and the newly-constructed terminal and complex fit the bill with its sleek, space-age design. The new $21 million terminal opened in May 1961 and it was, at the time, the largest airport terminal in the country.

March, 1961 - Atlanta, Ga: - In the old control tower at Atlanta Airport these men have great responsibility. It's their job to handle air traffic in and out of the field without endangering the lives of those in the planes.

The airport's radar control room was state of the art in 1961.

This 1962 photo of the Atlanta Municipal Airport's interior lobby showcases the terminal's forward-looking design, which exuded '60s modernity.

Some things never change: This parking lot at the Atlanta Municipal Airport is full in this Sept. 15, 1968, photo.

Atlanta Municipal Airport, September 15, 1968. Less than three years later, it would be named for former mayor William B. Hartsfield and become an international airport.

Atlanta Municipal airport's (now Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport) had only three runways in 1969. (Play Sack Schultz: Bowl Edition)

In the 1970s, it became clear that once again Atlanta needed to invest in airport expansion. Construction on the current midfield terminal started in 1977 and was the largest construction project in the South, costing $500 million. This 1980 photo shows the ongoing work of building the Hartsfield-Jackson domestic terminal that still is in operation.

Hartsfield became Delta's main hub in 1978 and is still the airline's home base of operations.

Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson dedicates the new airport, named for longtime Atlanta mayor William Hartsfield, in late 1980.

Passenger checks departure terminals at Hartsfield International Airport in 1992.

The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal as seen from the control tower in 1992.

Airline travel was in recovery mode Monday, a day after heavy storms dumped record rainfall and caused hundreds of flight delays and cancellations in Atlanta. People lined up at the outdoor check-in counters in 2008. (AJC file)

The airport mural of children at Centennial Olympic Park was taken down in summer 2016, removing another physical reminder of Atlanta's 1996 Olympic Games.

The airport, which is 10 miles from downtown Atlanta, encompasses a hefty 4,700 acres. (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 2016)

Eastern was Hartsfield's other major airline until it ceased operations in 1991. Southwest is now the second-largest airline at the airport.

As a "dress rehearsal" for the opening of its new $1.4 billion international terminal, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recruited 1,600 volunteers for a simulation exercise. (Bob Andres / AJC file)

People arrived early in the morning to check in Wednesday, May 16,2012 before the first flight took off from the new international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 1:25 p.m. The new terminal's price tag exceeded $1.4 billion. (JOHN SPINK / AJC file)

The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal officially opened its doors May 16, 2012 as passengers from around the globe got their first look at the new facility. (AJC file)

060527 - RIVERDALE, GA: A Delta plane rolls over the 5th runway bridge as cars continue to move on Interstate 285. The runway opened to air traffic on May 27, 2006. (AJC file photo)

The dual tunnel beneath the fifth runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON /staff CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta airport officials are pushing forward with plans to spend more than $300 million so that the underground systems of trains tying together terminals and concourses can handle more passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2016. JASON GETZ / AJC file

Passengers board an automated people mover in 2016 on the way to their airplane connection in the transportation mall at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Officials are contemplating extending a tunnel. That and the purchase of 11 new train cars would allow the airport to run more trains by shaving the time between trains by 18 seconds. (Jason Getz/ AJC file)

Travelers leave the plane train at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Canopy construction at Hartsfield-Jackson. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Passengers travel under the illuminated canopy of the North Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. The world's busiest airport was bustling with passengers arriving for the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, 2019.

As travelers enter the underground train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, they endeavor to locate the various terminals on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

A sign for Concourse D is seen at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

The food hall in Concourse A is seen at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

With travelers navigate Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport over the Columbus Day holiday weekend in 2023. (John Spink / AJC file)

Air Travelers filled the airport Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 as the busy holiday period comes as the airport is in the midst of an array of construction projects. (John Spink / AJC file)

The South Domestic Terminal was jammed with cars and passengers as crowds have returned to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the Memorial Day weekend travel period as seen in 2021. (John Spink / AJC file)

The main security checkpoint was full once again as lines at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport stretched through the domestic terminal atrium and down hallways early Monday morning, May 17, 2021 as travel ramps up in a recovery from the effects of COVID-19. (John Spink / AJC file)

Travelers wait for the plane train at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Travelers pass by a mural of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter located on an upper balcony above the North baggage claim of the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, March 23, 2025. The mural, titled “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant, The Carters,” was created by artist Fabian Williams.
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Travelers leave the secured area for baggage claim at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Travelers walk by a centennial celebration sign on an elevator at the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport marks the beginning of its centennial celebration at midnight on New Years Day 2025. (Screengrab courtesy of Hartsfield-Jackson)

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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, known as the world's busiest airport, celebrates 100 years. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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