In need of relief, officials balk at reliever airport for ATL | Opinion

ATL’s unchallenged position as the busiest airport is both a success and a detriment. “ATL brings the world to Atlanta and opens opportunities for our residents and businesses. It is truly the economic powerhouse of the Southeast and a major player in our work to move Atlanta forward,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in response.

That sounds great, but at the same time passengers often have to deal with the annoyances and failures of a hulking airport, including long TSA and bag-check lines, flight delays, limited on-site parking and an uncomfortably crowded airport. Even amenities, like airline lounges, reserved for private members or those with elite status, are sometimes so full that there’s a wait to get in, which leave passengers demanding relief.

Clearly, there are too many passengers at ATL, but that’s not always the case elsewhere. I travel regularly for work and pleasure, and in advance of a recent trip to London for a conference, I was surprised by its number of airports. London boasts six major airports, which help relieve London-Heathrow International Airport. Likewise, many large cities, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and so forth, have reliever airports, but for some reason the busiest airport in the world—ATL—doesn’t.

By way of background, the massive Atlanta airport sprouted from humble roots. Originally, the site was a racetrack that was converted into an airport in the 1920s, and it has since morphed into the behemoth it is today….