ATLANTA'S OLD TERMINAL IN 1980 : THE FINAL YEAR
As the opening of the midfield terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport grew near, the old 1961 terminal was stretched to its limits and served more than double its increased design capacity. With no room for expansion, airlines found inventive ways to accommodate more aircraft by double parking at some gates, sharing gates or parking at angles that created space for one or two more planes per concourse. The withdrawal of United Airlines and TWA in 1979 opened up new gates for Eastern, Piedmont, Delta, and others, but space was still at an absolute premium.
At the time of its closing in September 1980, the terminal served 15 airlines. This detailed map shows the final gate configuration. A larger version is available HERE.
At the time of its closing in September 1980, the terminal served 15 airlines. This detailed map shows the final gate configuration. A larger version is available HERE.
A typically hectic day at ATL in 1980 with 15 aircraft lined up for departure from runway 27R. All of these planes had to cross the active runway 8/26 to get to the south runways from the 1961 terminal located on the north side of the airport.
A great night view of the Delta Air Lines ticket counters at the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport from July 24, 1980, less than two months before the terminal closed. Photo taken by Floyd Jillson and courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographic Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.
Another terrific night view of the terminal from July 1980, this one taken from the mezzanine level above the area between the ticket lobby and the concourses. In this view, the ticket lobby is off to the right below the baggage claim sign and the security checkpoint leading to the concourses was almost directly below the photographer. Photo taken by Floyd Jillson and courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographic Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.
This is a Jeppesen map of the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport issued to Delta pilots, effective July 25, 1980, less than two months before the new terminal opened on September 21st. The old crosswind runways had been closed and removed in the mid '70s to make way for the midfield terminal.
Piedmont took over two of United's former gates on concourse D and managed to squeeze 3 planes into the space. Photo by Air Nikon.
Eastern also took several of United's former gates on the east side of concourse D and managed to make room for an extra aircraft by parking planes so close together that the wingtips almost touched. DC-9 N8916E is shown departing concourse D in 1980. Photo by Mike Sparkman via airliners.net.
On the west side of concourse D, Delta and the commuter airlines Ocean Airways and Southeastern Commuter Airlines took TWA's two former gates. Delta used gate 33 exclusively and the commuters used gate 35 (with up to 3 aircraft at a time) but, depending on the time of day, Delta would park at both. In this 1980 photo, an Ocean Airways Martin 404 is parked at #35 while a Delta 727 is parked at #33. Ocean Airways took over former Air South / Florida Airlines routes to Macon and St. Simons Island on January 15, 1980 using Beechcraft B-99s, ex-Florida Martin 404s and ex-Air Sunshine Convair 440s.
Two Eastern DC-9s and a 727 parked at the end of concourse B. Particularly notable in this photograph is the old quonset-hut temporary terminal building in the background, still bearing the word Atlanta. The building was relocated to the Hangar One general aviation area after the opening of the 1961 terminal and remained until construction began on the 4th parallel runway in the early 1980s. Photo by Air Nikon.
Eastern DC-9s parked at concourse C while an Airbus A-300 and L-1011 taxi past. The midfield terminal is nearing completion in the background. Photo from the Eastern Airlines Digital Collection.
Republic Airlines squeezed in extra aircraft along concourse C by parking one row of planes diagonally instead of in a straight line.
Here's some fantastic home movie footage from the Atlanta in May 1980, just 4 months before the midfield terminal opened. The film makes it clear how crowded the conditions were at the old terminal in its final months.
