Hartsfield-Jackson enhances security with new barriers ahead of summer rush, World Cup
By Grace King
Click here for updates on this story
ATLANTA, Georgia (WXIA) — Travelers flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may notice a new security measure before they even enter the terminal: concrete barriers now line parts of the drop-off and pickup areas.
Airport officials say the barriers, installed over the past few weeks, are part of an expanded security focus as Atlanta prepares for a busy summer travel season and the upcoming World Cup.
With about 2.7 million passengers expected to pass through the airport during the Memorial Day travel period, airport leaders say safety remains a top priority.
“We are the world’s busiest airport, so operationally we are always ready,” Monica Coleman, the airport’s marketing director, said. “Safety and security are first on our agenda.”
Coleman said the airport’s emergency management team has spent the past two years preparing for FIFA-related events in coordination with federal law enforcement partners and local agencies.
Some passengers said the barriers were inconvenient but understandable.
“It was a little bit hard because we were trying to find my brother, and we were over there, and then I was, wait a minute, I can’t just cross wherever I want to cross,” one traveler said.
Another passenger added, “I didn’t really notice it until we started talking about it. Now it’s a little bit of an obtrusive thing in a way. I would probably rather it not be there, but I guess if it’s for safety, it’s better.”
Officials said the barriers create a larger buffer between vehicles and pedestrian areas and were installed, in part, to prevent incidents like a January crash at Detroit’s airport, where a vehicle entered a secure area.
Atlanta’s airport staff also have hosted extra training exercises to ensure they are prepared for heightened summer travel and special events.
The airport plans to release more details soon about its security plan ahead of the World Cup and urged travelers to allow extra time as they navigate the updated traffic patterns.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.