Welcome to The Concourse

Hi, I'm Kelly Yamanouchi, and this is the second edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s air travel newsletter!?

We’ll have must-read info every second Tuesday of the month for anyone who travels in Atlanta — and anyone who’s a regular at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport , the world’s busiest airport. We share updates on what’s new and what’s coming, along with tips to navigate your travels smoothly. That includes traffic and parking tips, plus information about Delta Air Lines, flights and more.

• You can also head to the AJC for live updates on Hurricane Milton, which is closing airports in Florida and causing flight cancellations in Atlanta.

Thanks for being here! Please drop a comment about what you like or what you want more of — or email me at [email protected]. This newsletter is part of a larger suite of business newsletters we are piloting on Linkedin.

OPENING SOON

There’s a Modern Market Eatery coming to Hartsfield-Jackson. It’s a “fast casual” chain based in Colorado that calls itself “the modern definition of ‘fast’ food” with “super fast ticket times.” That’s a lot of emphasis on fast – which can be handy when you’re rushing to catch a flight.

• Where will it be? Concourse B, near Gate B25

• When will it open? Within the next five months
• What to know: Modern Market Eatery was founded in 2009 in Boulder, with a focus on “making it easy to eat clean, nourishing and delicious food.”
• What it's known for: Modern Market specializes in scratch-made salads, grain bowls, toasted sandwiches and brick–oven pizzas. Their menu also includes soup, lemonade and desserts.
• Insight: There are already two Modern Market Eatery locations at Denver International Airport.

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?

If you spend a lot of time at the Atlanta airport, especially in the late evenings, you may have heard an alarm and a message blared overhead: “May I have your attention please. An emergency has been reported in the building. While this is being verified, please stand by for instructions.”

In the evenings, it’s common to hear the alarm because the system is tested Sunday through Thursday nights year-round to meet regulatory requirements. But throughout the day, the alarms can be tripped by everything from low water pressure, including during construction in the terminal, to someone bumping up against any of the airport’s 15,000 sensors – as well as smoke or heat near the detection devices, according to Hartsfield-Jackson.

The Atlanta airport said it has one of the largest continuous fire alarm systems in the southeast.

TAKING OFF

Aeromexico will launch a new route from Atlanta to Manzanillo, Mexico, starting Nov. 2.

Aeromexico is a Delta partner, so Delta SkyMiles members can earn and use miles when they fly Aeromexico, and elite Delta frequent fliers can get benefits on Aeromexico.

Delta says Manzanillo is known for its “picturesque coastline and lush tropical scenery."

TRAVEL TIP

Did you hear the news about passport renewals? You can now renew your passport online, if you’re 25 years old or older and have had a passport before. The 美国国务院 launched the new online passport renewal process in September.

Now is a good time to check the expiration date on your passport. If you’re due to renew you may not have to mail in your application, unless you need expedited service or have other special requirements.

Even though it’s easier to apply for renewal, you may still have to wait six to eight weeks to get your new passport. So make sure you start the process months before you’ll need the new passport for an upcoming international trip.

• Bonus tip: The next time the Mega Millions Lottery jackpot has you tempted, there’s a convenient option to buy lotto tickets if you’re connecting through ATL or waiting for a flight. The Georgia Lottery has opened a new location on Concourse B at Hartsfield-Jackson. There are also Georgia Lottery kiosks in the domestic terminal near baggage claim areas, but the new Concourse B location is the only one in the concourses past security, replacing a short-lived Concourse T location that closed four years ago.

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MORE TO EXPLORE

Delta to offer more Atlanta flight capacity in 2025 than before the pandemic

Southwest plans to cut routes by a third, reduce staff at Hartsfield-Jackson

Union pushes for higher pay for Delta Connection carrier flight attendants

CrowdStrike exec apologizes to Congress for disruptive outage