Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest airport by both passengers and number of total landings and take-offs. Located 7 miles south of downtown Atlanta, the airport has 5 runways and handles more than 100 million passengers every year. ATL is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, as well as the focus city for Frontier Airliners, Spirit Airlines and Southwest Airlines. While the majority of movements are Delta Air Lines, there are also international carriers such as KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airways, Korean Air, Aeromexico, etc.

There are also several cargo operators that serving Atlanta like Asiana, Cargolux, Cathay, China Airlines, Emirates Sky Cargo, EVAAir Cargo, FedEx, Korean, Qatar Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Singapore Airlines and UPS. The cargo complex is located between the runways 09R/27L and 10/28.

Although Atlanta is the largest airport in the world and has five runways, it is never boring due to the high number of arrivals and departures. There are also no reports about problems with the airport secuirty or police.

Next to spot 3, the Renaissance Hotel is the Delta Flight museum located. The facility has many attractions and exhibitions. Aircraft on display like the Boeing 747, 757, Douglas DC-9, just to mention a few things.

Written by Yixin Chen, Brian T Richards (Spot 3), Andrew Cohen (Spot 8), Michael Johnson (Spot 9) and Achim Walther (Spot 5). Last Update: October 2019

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Airport Information
Runways
08L/26R	2.700 m (9.000 ft)
08R/26L	3.048 m (9.999 ft)
09L/27R	3.780 m (12.390 ft)
09R/27L	2.700 m (9.000 ft)
10/28	2.700 m (9.000 ft)
Terminals
Concourse T, A, B, C	Delta, United (T), American (T). Southwest (C)
Concourse D	Delta, Alaska, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, American
Concourse E	Delta, Contour, Boutique Air, Southwest and foreign carriers (intl. flights)
Concourse F	Delta, Southwest and foreign carriers
Airport Chart
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not recommended to use.
Car/Public Transport	Car is necessary for off-airport locations except the terminal spots.
Restrooms	Inside the terminal, good for the parking deck locations. Outside there are always some hotels and fast food chains nearby.
Drinks/Food	Inside the terminal, good for the parking deck locations. Outside there are always some fast food chains nearby.
Hotels	One of the most popular hotels for planespotters worldwide ist the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport. See infos at spot3 for more details. Otherwise there are two hotel zones. One is at the north of the airport whilst the second are is on the south-west corner of the field.
Season	The best season to visit ATL is winter, as several locations will be good for all day and the sun position is favorable. In summer, evening departures on Runway 9R/27L is very good. However, sun postion is too high during the day to get decent shots in summer.
Runway Usage
General Info	ATL airport has five runways, all in west-east direction. Most of the time ATL operates westbound, unless there’s wind in the opposite direction. Cargo operators tend to use the southern runways as these are closer to their facilities.
08L/26R	Mainly used for landings. Usually half of the international arrivals land here.
08R/26L	Mainly used for departures of domestic flights.
09L/27R	Mainly used for departures. 90% of the international departures use this runway due to its proximity to the international terminal and because it is the longest one.
09R/27L	Mainly used for landings. Usually another half of the international arrivals use this runway.
10/28	The far south runway. Mainly used for domestic arrivals.

	Spot #1 – Domestic Terminal South Parking Garage
WHERE	This locations is on the top floor (4th floor) of the Domestic Terminal South Parking Garage. From I-85, just follow the well-designed signage to Domestic Terminal South Parking and enter Daily Parking (not Economy or Hourly parking). Drive all the way up to the top floor and position yourself to runways 9L/27R and 9R/27L. If 27 is in use, it’s better to stay at the east end. If 9 is in use, better to stay at the west side for the line-ups and landings.
WHAT	If 27 is in use, you can get all departures as they rotate via 27R. You can also get some (not all) taxing aircrafts just landed from 27L. If 9 is in use, you can get landings from 9R, line-ups and departures at 9L.
TIME	Aircrafts on the runway are only good for May to July after 17:30. Good for night shots all year round. During summer, most Europe bound departures after 17:30 use 9L/27R for departure.
MISC.	Restrooms are inside the terminal. This is a known plane spotting location and there are no issues with security reported.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm for taxiing aircrafts. 100-400 for departing aircrafts.

ATL - Spot 1

ATL - Spot 1

ATL - Spot 1

ATL - Spot 1

ATL - Spot 1

ATL - Spot 1

	Spot #2 – Domestic Terminal North Parking Garage
WHERE	This locations is on the top floor (4th floor) of the Domestic Terminal North Parking Garage. From I-85, just follow the well-designed signage to Domestic Terminal North Parking and enter Daily Parking (not Economy or Hourly parking). Drive all the way up to the top floor and position yourself to runways 8L/26R and 8R/26L.
WHAT	All landings on 8L and departures on 26L. Taking ground pictures is not possible from here due to disturbing light poles and other objects.
TIME	Good for all day all year long except mornings and evenings in summer. However, heat haze is too severe for 8L landings during summer to make decent shots (alternative is spot #8).
MISC.	Restrooms are inside the terminal. Fast food chains available around the airport.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-450mm

	Spot #3 – Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
WHERE	Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel is one of the most famost spotting hotels in the world. The hotel locates in the north of the airport, facing directly to Runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, as well as the business jet ramp. Booking is required to spot here. Upon check-in, you should ask for a room facing south on higher floors. Our room was 1107 and it offered a great view of the airport. Check in time is after 4pm and they were very strict at enforcing that. All rooms facing south have a balcony where you can easily sit down and enjoy the traffic.
WHAT	All movements on 8L/26R as well as business jet ramp.
TIME	Good for mornings and evenings in summer. In winter it will be backlit all day long.
MISC.	Everything you need is in your hotel. There are also several restaurants close to the hotel.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

	Spot #4 –  The Engineering Guy
WHERE	This is location is to the east of the field. From I-75 southbound, take Exit 239 to the Old Dixie Highway. Drive along Old Dixie Highway for another 0.6 miles and you’ll see The Engineering Guy on your right. Park and spot the landings on its parking lot. Address: 1000 Tradeport Blvd #1011, Atlanta, GA 30354
WHAT	All landings on 26R
TIME	Good for all day long in winter. In summer good for 11:30 to 16:30, although sun position is quite high in summer.
MISC.	There are fast food restaurants down south along the Old Dixie Rd.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

ATL - Spot 4

ATL - Spot 4

ATL - Spot 4

ATL - Spot 4

ATL - Spot 4

ATL - Spot 4

	Spot #5 –  Catalina
WHERE	This is a alternative to #4 with a better angle but more distance. It is located on an open space next to a mexican restaurant named “Catalina”. To get there drive the US route 41 northbound until the road got two lanes, again. Short after this point you’ll see the restaurant and open space on the right. Park north of if and start spotting. Address: 4110 Old Dixie Rd, Hapeville, GA 30354, USA
WHAT	Best for RWY26R wich is more in use for landings than 26L which you can photograph from there too.
TIME	Good for all day long in winter. In summer good for 11:30 to 16:30, although sun position is quite high in summer.
MISC.	Food and toilet in the restaurant. There are also fast food restaurants down south along the Old Dixie Rd.
FOCAL LENGTH	For 26R: 380mm for a 738; 250mm for A346

	Spot #6 – Range, Guns and Safes
WHERE	On the east side of the airport. From I-75 northbound, take Exit 237 to Forest Park/Farmers Market. Drive along the northbound frontage road, until you reach Lake Mirror Rd. Right turn into Lake Mirror Rd, the ranch and gun shop is on your left. Position yourself in the parking lot. Address: 285 Lake Mirror Rd, Forest Park, GA 30297
WHAT	All landings on 27L.
TIME	Good for all day long in winter. In summer good for 11:30 to 16:30, although sun position is quite high in summer.
MISC.	There are fast food restaurants if you continue to drive eastbound on Lake Mirror Rd until you reach Old Dixie Rd.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

ATL - Spot 6

ATL - Spot 6

ATL - Spot 6

	Spot #7 – International Hourly Parking Garage
WHERE	On the east side of the airport. From I-75, follow the well-designed signage to International Hourly Parking. Drive all the way up to the top (6th) floor. Position yourself at the northwest corner. Facing west/northwest you can get 8L departures and taxiing aircrafts for 26 departure and 8L depart
WHAT	8L departures and taxiing aircrafts for 26L departure
TIME	8L departures are good all day long in winter, and 11:30-16:30 in summer. Taxiing aircrafts are only good in the mornings all year round.
MISC.	Restrooms in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	Taxiing aircrafts 70-300mm. 8L departures 100-400mm

We currently can’t provide sample pictures from this location yet. If you have some pictures from this location, please do not hesitate to share with us!

	Spot #8 – Georgia International Convention Center
WHERE	The location itself is on the sidewalk next to the huge sign at the driveway to the Georgia International Convention Center. Do not park at the convention center as it is for events only. Instead, go up the hill and park at the Marriott (for a fee) then walk back down towards Camp Creek Parkway. During the week you might get lucky and be able to park for free at the BMW training center nearby but there’s a chance you’ll be asked to move. It`s a good alternative to spot #2 as you are closer to the action.
WHAT	Great for 8L arrivals
TIME	Good for all day all year long except mornings and evenings in summer. Best light conditions in winter.
MISC.	Food and Restrooms within the nearby hotels. Some tress are spending shadow.
FOCAL LENGTH	Challenger = 250mm; A346 = 100mm

ATL-Spot8

ATL-Spot8

ATL-Spot8

	Spot #9 – Airport Park-Ride Garage – 26 L/R arrivals
WHERE	Another good opportunity to catch the arrivals on runways 26, if you don’t mind to pay some dollars for a parking fee, is on the top level of the “Airport Park-Ride” garage. Take the road to the international terminal and once on the access road just follow the signs to the garage. It is a bit before the terminal itself and the big Delta Airlines maintenance hangars.
WHAT	Arrivals on 26 L/R as well as line up for 26L but part of the wheels are cut off at 90 degree.
TIME	Good for all day all year long except mornings and evenings in summer. Best light conditions in winter.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. Closest facilities are within the terminal complex.
FOCAL LENGTH	Challenger = 250mm; A346 = 100mm

Copyright Michael Johnson

Copyright Michael Johnson