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The new International Terminal aims to deliver a more efficient and improved consumer experience |
US. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport opened its new Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. International Terminal on 16 May. The facility was heralded as “America’s new global gateway,” by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed at the opening ceremony.
Construction on the 1.2 million-square-foot, 12 gate international terminal began in the summer of 2008 and was completed recently at a cost of US$1.4 billion.
The terminal has a strong commercial focus. More than 20 retail outlets, restaurants and other services were available to passengers on opening day (see below for Concourse F concessions).
Among the major goals in developing the facility was to increase capacity by connecting Concourse E with its 28 gates to a new Concourse F with 12 wide-body gates.
Efficiency was also vital. Another key aim was to eliminate the baggage recheck process for arriving international passengers, which is anticipated to save around 45 minutes and make the transfer process much easier, according to Jim Drinkart, Department of Aviation Planning and Design division.
Aviation General Manager Louis Miller said: “The opening of the International Terminal is huge for Atlanta. It gives international passengers their own terminal with its own entrance, it ends the baggage recheck process for Atlanta-bound passengers and it enhances the airport’s overall capacity now and for the future.”
The Moodie Report and sister title The Foodie Report attended the official opening, including the ribbon cutting at Delta’s Sky Club on level two of Concourse F post-security. This event was followed closely by the inauguration of the first outbound flight to Tokyo Narita with Delta providing luggage tag gifts to all boarding passengers.
The first inbound flight was Delta Airlines from Dublin, which was greeted with a water cannon salute. Passengers were also given a welcoming gift of luggage tags.
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CNN International (above) and Brookstone (below) are among the cornerstones of the retail offer |
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Concourse F concessions include:
Shopping:
Brookstone, International Atrium
Clutch, International Atrium
CNN International News, arrivals
Kiehl’s, International Atrium
Luxury Boutique, International Atrium
MAC Cosmetics, International Atrium
Simply Books/French Meadow Café,
International Atrium
Sunglass Icon, International Atrium
Sweet Auburn Market Café
(depart level, pre-security)
Tommy Hilfiger, International Atrium
Touch Table, International Atrium
Dining:
Ecco Kitchen, mezzanine
Jekyll Island Seafood, Co. F9
Lorena Garcia Tapas Bar, mezzanine
Maison Mathis/Illy/Stella Artois, F3
Pei Wei Asian Diner, mezzanine
Starbucks, mezzanine
The Original El Taco, mezzanine
The Pecan, mezzanine
The Varsity
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Atlanta is the world’s busiest airport, with over 92 million passengers in 2011 |
The two main retail contracts with 13 outlets each in the new International Terminal are operated by LTL ATL JV (HMSHost) and Paradies-Atlanta II. Four smaller food & beverage concessions are operated by Atlanta Restaurant Partners.
Gregg Paradies, CEO of The Paradies Shops, told The Moodie Report: “We are extremely proud to debut the Sweet Auburn Marketplace, which will provide an exceptional dining and shopping experience to travellers and their well wishers at the Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal. The facility includes an elegant bar with an exceptional small plate menu, the best baked items and snacks from the region and a robust shopping experience that includes anything from travel essentials to special mementos.
“We are also proud to build the facility with repurposed materials like reclaimed wood from an old bowling alley in the area.
“Last but perhaps most important, the market commemorates one of the highly relevant historical areas of the city of Atlanta. The original market which served as the inspiration was founded in 1918 and continues to thrive until this day.”
TBI was recently selected by the City of Atlanta to continue managing International Concourse E and will also now manage the New Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. International Terminal (Concourses F and E) Atlanta Airport handled 92.4 million passengers in 2011 and was the biggest airport in the world by total passenger volume.
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The terminal was built at a cost of US$1.4 billion |
*FOOTNOTE: The Foodie Report is a new e-Zine published by The Moodie Report and dedicated to all travel-related, revenue-generating food & beverage services. To view the most recent edition click here.
To subscribe, please e-mail Sinead.Moodie@TheMoodieReport.com
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the host of this year’s Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards to be held on 20-22 June. Click here for details.
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