Delta CEO Ed Bastian rejects proposal for second Atlanta airport amid major expansion

International traffic at ATL increased by 14% last year—outpacing domestic growth rates. When asked about building a second airport for Atlanta during the event, Smith called such discussions "premature" given current investment opportunities at ATL. Bastian was more direct: “There’s not a city in this country that wouldn’t die to have something like Hartsfield-Jackson in its backyard, with all the capabilities it brings. We need to capitalize on this world-leading asset that we have, and continue to invest in building an even larger, faster, and more economically-responsible model. A second airport is a distraction that would divert capital and traffic flows for a very low-end purpose.”

The economic impact of Hartsfield-Jackson is substantial; it contributes an estimated $35 billion annually to metro Atlanta’s economy and supports over 63,000 onsite jobs. These figures suggest neither city nor state officials are likely interested in changing course.

Smith has stated his intention for travelers “to spend less time at the airport,” while acknowledging passenger experiences do not always align with ATL’s recognition as the most efficient airport by the Air Transport Research Society. The $11.6 billion ATLNext program remains focused on accommodating growing passenger volumes by enhancing efficiency.

The original plan anticipated reaching 125 million annual passengers by 2030 based on current trends but continued international expansion could accelerate this timeline further. Smith noted: "We now have to look out to the point where we reach 140 million passengers, and we have to figure out what the infrastructure needs to look like to accommodate that level of traffic.”

Recent construction projects under ATLNext include an expanded Terminal T with ten new gates; improved terminal canopies; increased Plane Train capacity; and new parking facilities with thousands of additional spaces using smart technology for real-time availability.

Major ongoing projects include:

- Concourse D Expansion: Adding ten gates via modular construction methods ($1.4 billion), phased through 2029.

- CPTC Modernization: Renovating terminals for better flow and accessibility ($4 billion), continuing through 2035.

- Sixth Runway Construction: Developing another runway intended to boost airfield capacity by up to 35% ($1 billion), expected completion by 2034.

- Parking/Transit System Upgrades: New parking decks adjacent to terminals plus transit system extensions ($2.7 billion), phased through 2030.

Looking ahead nationally rather than locally, Bastian cited outdated air traffic control systems as another major challenge facing U.S aviation today—stating flight times between Atlanta and New York are longer now than when Delta first flew that route decades ago due largely to delays from these antiquated systems: “When you think about all the modern technology that’s been applied on our side, to say that it takes longer to get to LaGuardia than it did in the 1950s is insane,” he said.