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DALLAS — “This is a celebration! Welcome to the world’s busiest and most efficient airport!”
Thus began the pep rally on April 15 in the rotunda of the domestic terminal of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to mark the beginning of the 18-month celebration of ATL’s 100th anniversary.
Two-time Emmy Award winner, first African American P.A. announcer for the Atlanta Hawks, and most importantly, the voice of the Plane Train, Ryan Cameron opened the festivities that included airport dignitaries, former Atlanta mayors, and local and national elected representatives.
“We are here to celebrate ATL’s leadership in the aviation industry,” Cameron said. “We bring people together. And you can see people continuing to move through the terminal as we speak, to visit families, engage in business, and simply enjoy the benefits of travel.”
The rally took place one day before the 100th anniversary of the day Atlanta mayor Walter Sims signed the lease to turn the abandoned Atlanta Speedway into an airfield. The agreement renamed the site Candler Field after its former owner, Coca-Cola tycoon and former Atlanta mayor, Asa Candler.
The first flight into Candler Field was on September 15, 1926, a Florida Airways mail plane flying from Florida.
“This celebration is a moment to honor the bold vision and leadership that made ATL the global hub it is today,” said ATL General Manager Ricky Smith. “As we celebrate 100 years of history, we also embrace the next century of growth, innovation, and global connection.”
“There are not many other airports that can say they are celebrating 100 years,” said ATL Executive Deputy General Manager Jan Lennon. “Today is not just a celebration of an airport, it is the celebration of a legacy. We are standing on 100 years of history, of pushing boundaries. One hundred years of progress and connectivity. I’ve watched this airport grow from a domestic hub to a global titan, redefining how the world does business. ATL welcomed 104.6 million passengers in 2024 and provides a $66 billion – with a B – economic impact.”
Lennon described how the growth happened not by accident, but by the visionary leadership of many people, particularly namesakes Mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson and their successors.
In fact, all surviving mayors of Atlanta, including current Mayor Andre Dickens, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Kasim Reed, Shirley Franklin, Bill Campbell, and Ambassador Andrew Young, made a rare joint appearance.
The former mayors also signed a commemorative photo of ATL’s namesakes.
ATL is naming 100 ambassadors to promote the airport as part of the anniversary celebration. The first group, announced at the rally, includes:
- Singer, producer, and rapper Antwan “Big Boi Patton
- Author, designer, podcaster, and former Miss Georgi,a Kim Gravel
- Comedian DC Young Fly
- Actress Rashan Ali
- Atlanta radio host Bert Weiss
- Music executive Jerry Clar
- Author and music executive Shanti Das
- Local Green founder Zak Wallace
- Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell
- Cultural architect Jay “Jayzee” Jenkins
Also revealed at the event were the airport’s two new mascots, Helix and Journey, and the time capsule that will be buried on the airport grounds. Included in the capsule are a letter from Mayor Dickens, a piece of lighting from the airport canopy, recordings of sounds that passengers experience as they pass through the airport, an artifact from the Concourse D widening project, a This is My Airport T-Shirt, and a curated list of the over 400 commercial locations throughout the airport.
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Featured image: ATL. Photos: John Huston/Airways
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