ATL’s centennial rings in New Year’s Eve when the Airport’s signature canopies will showcase a New Year’s countdown and a special centennial design that will illuminate every night except for the scheduled holiday/special scenes.
Walter Sims, the 44th mayor of Atlanta, signed a five-year lease on April 16, 1925 for an abandoned auto racetrack at the urging of City Council member William Hartsfield. The lease was part of an effort to develop the site into an airfield, setting in motion what is today the world’s busiest airport, a distinction it has held for almost a quarter of its existence.
Hartsfield later served as the 47th and 49th mayor of Atlanta. Upon his death in 1971, the Airport’s name was changed to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport. In October 2003, the Airport’s name was changed again to honor Maynard Jackson, the city’s first Black mayor who served as the city’s 52nd and 54th mayor. The current name recognizes the visionary leadership that both Hartsfield and Jackson held for the Airport and stands as a testament to two of the city’s greatest leaders.
April 16, 1925, and Sept. 15, 1926, are considered bookending dates for the Airport. The latter was when Florida Airways delivered mail on the Tampa/Jacksonville/Atlanta route to become the first commercial flight into what was then known as Candler Field. Fast forward a century, and this year ATL anticipates hosting over 100 million passengers and within five years is expected to host more than 125 million passengers annually.
The celebration officially kicks off Monday, Jan. 13 as the 61st mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, hosts an ATL Centennial Celebration Press Conference. All of the living Atlanta mayors and ATL General Managers will be invited to participate and share some of their memories.
ATL centennial events also will include a centennial gala, art displays, stories documenting the Airport’s vibrant history, and a look ahead into transportation systems of the future.
Tags: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
