NEW AIRLINES FOR ATLANTA 1977-1980
Numerous airlines were awarded new routes to Atlanta in the months before the passage of airline deregulation in 1978. Following deregulation, Ozark began service while both TWA and United discontinued flights to Atlanta in 1979. There were also new commuter airlines and several international carriers that began service to Atlanta during 1978-1980.
Braniff, which flew to Atlanta in the late 1960s and early 70s, returned on July 28, 1977 with flights to Denver and Oklahoma City. Service was later added to Kansas City and Dallas / Ft. Worth.
Braniff, which flew to Atlanta in the late 1960s and early 70s, returned on July 28, 1977 with flights to Denver and Oklahoma City. Service was later added to Kansas City and Dallas / Ft. Worth.
Frontier began 737 service to Atlanta on August 1, 1978 with non-stop flights to Wichita and one-stop service to Denver.
North Central began service between Atlanta and Detroit on September 5, 1978.
Ozark inaugurated service to ATL on December 1, 1978 with DC-9 flights to Des Moines, Peoria, and Moline.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines began service between Atlanta and Columbus, GA on June 27, 1979 using Twin Otter equipment. N125SA is pictured at gate 40A at the end of concourse D of the old terminal.
Republic Airlines was formed by the merger of Southern Airways and North Central on July 1, 1979.
New international flights 1978-1979
Atlanta received its first nonstop service to Europe on April 30, 1978 when Delta Air Lines began service to London's Gatwick airport. This is a photo from the inaugural ceremony.
Sabena Belgian World Airlines inaugurated flights to Brussels on June 1, 1978 using Boeing 707s and then 747s and DC-10s as traffic increased. 747 OO-SGB is pictured touching down at Atlanta on July 7, 1979. The midfield terminal is under construction in the background. Photo by Mick Bajcar.
A cinder block Federal Inspection Services building was quickly added to the concourse E rotunda to handle the immigration, baggage and customs processes of flights arriving from Europe.
Bahamasair started nonstop flights between Atlanta and Nassau on December 13, 1979.
1980 saw the arrival of two additional European carriers to Atlanta. Lufthansa German Airlines inaugurated service to Frankfurt on May 1 and British Caledonian began nonstop flights from Hartsfield to London a month later. Below, a London-bound British Caledonian DC-10 heads for the taxiway in July 1980. While arriving international flights from Europe docked at the new Federal Inspection Services facility at the end of concourse E, lack of parking space meant that outbound international flights often used gates closer to the main terminal.
