Panel Upholds Airport Gun Ban

A federal appeals court has upheld a judge's decision to toss a lawsuit seeking to allow licensed gun owners to carry weapons in parts of the world's busiest airport. That judge had dismissed the lawsuit last year on grounds that the gun rights organization GeorgiaCarry.org failed to prove that a new Georgia law would allow weapons into unsecured areas of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A three-judge panel found an appeal of that ruling was "meritless." The legal feud erupted when a new state law took effect in July that allows people with gun permits to carry guns into restaurants and state parks and on public transportation. Atlanta officials quickly declared the airport a "gun-free zone" and warned that anyone carrying a gun there would be arrested. GeorgiaCarry.org sued the city and the airport, claiming the airport qualifies as public transportation under the new state law.


(Associated Press)

Atlanta Has Busiest Airport

For the fourth year in a row, Georgia's main airport has been named the nation's busiest. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport let the country in the number of takeoffs and landings in 2008. That's according to the Federal Aviation Administration. An FAA report shows Hartsfield-Jackson had just under 980,000 operations last year. Chicago's O'Hare International ranked second-busiest in 2008.

(Associated Press)

Airlines threaten to move flights from Atlanta

Atlanta-based Delta Airlines and discount carrier AirTran Airways are threatening to move flights from Atlanta as they negotiate new lease agreements with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

They say if their costs can’t remain competitive with the fees they must pay at the Atlanta airport, they could take their connecting flight business elsewhere.

Their lease agreements with Hartsfield-Jackson don’t expire until September 2010.

Neither Delta nor Airtran are thinking about pulling out altogether.

The two carriers represent roughly 93 percent of the traffic at the Atlanta airport. According to the airport, their business with all airlines is expected to generate about 160 million dollars in revenue for 2009.

(Associated Press)

Atlanta airport ranks most efficient

Georgia’s main airport is the world’s most efficient. The Air Transport Research Society gives Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport the honor for the fifth time in six years, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The ranking comes from a study of 142 airports worldwide.

Airport wait times could ease

A top transportation official is working on shortening lines at Georgia's main airport. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. The airport has asked for the Transportation Security Administration to create 10 additional security lanes by midsummer.

Busy travel day expected at Atlanta airport

Hartsfield-Jackson.

It's expected to be a busy travel day at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

A spokesman says more than 300,000 passengers are expected to past through the world's busiest airport Wednesday, the day after Christmas.

Currently, all 22 security lanes are open and there is about a 25-minute wait to get through.

About 1.8 million people were expected to pass through the airport from Dec. 20 to Thursday.

Another burst of passengers is expected over the New Year's holiday period.

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of holiday traffic.

Airport offers flu shots

You can now get a flu shot at Georgia’s largest airport. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has gateside kiosks and health stations offering flu shots. The cost ranges from $15 to $35. Some also offers a pneumonia shot.