Following upgrades, Atlanta’s other airport says bring on World Cup

Josh Green

Thu, 05/01/2025 – 08:52

If you think Atlanta’s pre-World Cup preparations are limited to gangbusters construction in blocks around Mercedes-Benz Stadium, think again.

That’s the message this month from Fulton County’s airport that isn’t the busiest on the planet—one of just two 24/7-tower airports in Georgia—as the 2026 FIFA World Cup edges closer. (Just 410 days away now).

Located about nine miles due west of downtown Atlanta, Fulton County Executive Airport has been gearing up for an expected influx of international flights next year by implementing infrastructure upgrades that airport leadership calls significant.

Currently, those include new customs services and improved runway conditions, funded with a $6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, that expand capabilities of the 900-acre facility at 3977 Aviation Circle also known as Charlie Brown Field.

Courtesy of Fulton County Executive Airport; Goode Van Slyke Architecture

The 3977 Aviation Circle NW airfield in relation to downtown Atlanta. Google Maps

Fulton County Executive Airport is a landing spot for some of the world’s top brands (Norfolk Southern, Home Depot, and Arthur Blank’s family operations have leased hangars) that helps keep Atlanta’s movers-and-shakers globally connected.

The airport’s upgraded Air Craft Rescue and Fire station. Courtesy of Fulton County Executive Airport

Courtesy of Fulton County Executive Airport

“These upgrades are not just about capacity,” reads a recent announcement, “they signify the airport’s commitment to supporting Atlanta’s economic growth and its status as a global city.”

Overview of near and long-term upgrades planned at Fulton County Executive Airport, as presented to county commissioners two years ago. Courtesy of Fulton County Executive Airport; 2023