Reed: New international terminal to open May 16

ATLANTA — The new international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will open on May 16, Mayor Kasim Reed said today.

The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal — which “has a focus on efficiency and customer-friendly design, so it will serve our international guests well now and in the future,” Aviation General Manager Louis Miller said in a news release — features 12 travel gates.

“The opening of the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is a major milestone for Hartsfield-Jackson airport and the City of Atlanta,” Reed said in a news release. “The international terminal will strengthen Atlanta’s position as the capital of the Southeast and a vital global gateway for the United States. Our city has long been a preferred destination for international business and tourism, and I look forward to May 16 when we greet travelers from around the world in this new, state-of-the-art terminal.”

The new terminal has been the subject on much controversy for the world’s busiest airport, which saw nearly 9.9 million international passengers in 2011.

In January, the Atlanta City Council by a 12-3 margin approved a $3 billion concessions deal for airport. Critics argued for more time to review the bids; Officials countered that the process was open and transparent.