How many runways does ATL have?
Five — five parallel east-west runways, the largest single-airport runway count in the U.S.
Hartsfield-Jackson operates five parallel east-west runways, more than any other single-airport facility in the U.S. The runways are designated 8R/26L, 9R/27L, 9L/27R, 8L/26R, and 10/28. Total runway capacity supports the airport's industry-leading flight volume of 2,500+ daily operations.
The runway configuration allows for simultaneous independent operations on parallel runways, dramatically increasing throughput compared to airports with crossing or single runway configurations. Approach paths are coordinated to maintain separation in the dense Atlanta airspace.
The newest runway, 10/28, opened in 2006 as the 'fifth runway' — a major capacity expansion that significantly reduced delays and increased Hartsfield-Jackson's ability to handle peak banks. The runway crosses I-285 via a tunnel structure that was an engineering achievement at the time.
Despite the substantial runway capacity, Hartsfield-Jackson operates near peak utilization during weekday banks. Weather delays (thunderstorms in summer, fog in winter) can quickly cascade across the operation. The airport is one of the most weather-sensitive major hubs in the U.S.