A Georgia Senate committee studying the idea of creating a state authority to take over Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will hold its first meeting later this month.
The Senate study committee, created by resolution during this year's legislative session, will also consider the possibility of adding a second airport for the region, according to study committee chairman State Sen. Burt Jones, R-Jackson.
VIDEO: In other airport-related news
The first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol, and Jones said the committee will likely hold several more meetings before preparing a report by December.
Jones said the committee will seek to answer three questions: Does it benefit the state? Will the Federal Aviation Administration approve it? And, how much would it cost to restructure the airport’s bonds?
The idea of a state takeover of City of Atlanta-run Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport, faces opposition from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Delta Air Lines.
But Jones and others have pointed to the problems the city and airport face with federal investigations and other controversies and recent ethical issues.
