Access restrictions are already in place at the Atlanta airport to stem the influx of homeless people

Passengers heading to Atlanta International Airport will now find a way to read the recent access rules. Restrictions at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport went into effect on April 22 to prevent homeless people from looking for shelter there.

informed that the regulations will limit the number of people who can stay at the airport at any time of the day. Only passengers with tickets, people meeting them, staff or people conducting business matters are allowed on the premises. This is a change to the original rules that restricted access from 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

These restrictions apply to all areas outside the most important terminals, including the SkyTrain, Car Rental Center and car parking zone. The recent regulation goals to discourage homeless people from looking for shelter at the airport.

The issue of the airport’s homeless population stays a pressing issue for the city of Atlanta. The city owns and operates the facility, once considered the world’s busiest airport, bringing in According to the carrier’s website, it serves 286,000 passengers every day. At the same altitude, roughly 300 people used the travel center, especially during the colder months.

In December 2023, the city council passed a resolution requiring the airport authorities to adopt a plan to provide alternative shelter options. The plan led to a decline in the number of homeless people coming to the area, but failed to stop further restrictions.

However, some passengers are joyful with the changes, and one of them shared how “comfortable” travelers can feel after the introduction of this restriction.

“When you’re traveling and stuff, the service should be good,” Aniya Wesley told the news outlet. “You don’t expect to arrive at the airport and see a bunch of homeless people standing around who don’t actually fly here. They just sit there; it doesn’t really make people feel comfortable. I do know I would not feel comfortable.

Despite the advantages to the passenger experience, people battling homelessness could have one less probability to escape their outdoor conditions. People who try to use the airport anyway might be arrested.