When the Atlanta airport's international terminal opened in 2012, there were far fewer options available for parking than at the airport's domestic terminal.
The domestic terminal sitting on the west side of the world's busiest airport has multiple airport-operated garages, parking lots and economy lots, along with about 10 off-airport lots.
The international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport opened with just an hourly parking garage and a park-ride garage, both operated by the airport, and no private airport parking lots in the immediate area.
However, an off-airport parking operation called Fast Park & Relax recently opened to serve the international terminal. Regular rates are $11 a day, with a "grand opening" rate of $5.50 a day.
The Fast Park lot at 251 Charles W. Grant Pkwy sits down the street from the international terminal, near the highway exit, and is operated by Parking Company of America. Open since late December, it has 1,700 spaces, including 32 spaces for electric vehicles with no extra fee for charging.
Shuttles only go to the international terminal, reducing its appeal for the roughly 88 percent of passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson who are traveling domestically.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
However, Fast Park bills itself as convenient for international travelers and a "faster option" for domestic travelers who are not checking bags -- particularly for those who also already have boarding passes, enabling them to get through security on either side of the airport.
"Atlanta is a very competitive parking market," said Parking Company of America principal Manuel Chavez. He said the company has invested more than $20 million in the new Fast Park location, which is aimed at being a "unique option" given its location by the international terminal.
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