Atlanta, GA

Busiest airport in America is not in Atlanta anymore. See where it is.

Published

4 months ago

January 22, 2026

Press Room

Busiest airport in America is not in Atlanta anymore. See where it is.

Move over Atlanta.

Chicago can now claim the busiest airport in the country.

Preliminary FAA operations data shows 857,392 aircraft landed or took off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport in 2025. That’s significantly more than the 807,625 take offs and landings over the same period at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which for years has been the busiest airport in the world.

O’Hare is a hub for both American and United Airlines, while Atlanta is a hub for Delta Air Lines.

Final passenger counts and global numbers are still to come, but Chicago is already reveling in reclaiming America’s top spot for the first time since 2019.

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“This is more than a statistic, it’s a statement about Chicago’s momentum,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a news release. “From the runways of O’Hare to the neighborhoods across our city, Chicago is building, growing, and leading. We are open for business, open to the world, and once again setting the pace for the nation.”

Another 210,930 aircraft took off and landed at Chicago Midway International Airport in 2025, according to FAA Operations Network data.

“Our airports are more than international hubs for transportation—they are our front door, the first touch point for millions of visitors every year, and a symbol of how Chicago is Never Done and Never Outdone,” Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of the city’s destination marketing arm, Choose Chicago, said in the news release.

O’Hare is set to get even busier with a new 19-gate Concourse D expected to be completed in late 2028, as part of a $1.3 billion improvement and expansion project at the airport.

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Atlanta, GA

I-285 vanishes: Another full closure set for this weekend | What to know

Published

8 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

I-285 vanishes: Another full closure set for this weekend | What to know

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Metro Atlanta, clear your calendars and get your First Alert Traffic alerts ready: Interstate 285 is about to disappear for the weekend — again.

The Ga. Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) plans to completely shut down both directions of I-285 on the Westside between SR 139/MLK Jr. Drive (Exit 9) and Cascade Road (Exit 7) for a full weekend of work tied to the massive I-285 Westside rebuild.

This is the second of multiple full closures for the I-285 rebuild.

When it happens

Start: 7 p.m. Friday, June 5
End: 5 a.m. Monday, June 8

Translation: If you normally “just hop on 285 real quick,” you won’t.

Why is I-285 closing

GDOT says crews need the uninterrupted time to keep the project on schedule, doing work like milling/grinding pavement and prepping for slab repair and replacement. The broader project covers about 10 miles, costs $206 million, and is slated to wrap in 2028.

The ripple effect: traffic won’t stay contained

GDOT warns the closure could trigger region-wide slowdowns, with congestion expected on:

I-20
I-75/I-85
SR 166 (Langford Parkway)
Local roads across southwest Atlanta/Fulton County

Detours (aka: the official “good luck” routes)

Southbound I-285: Exit to I-20 (exit 10A) to I-75/I-85 southbound
Northbound/westbound I-285: Exit to SR 166/Langford Parkway (exit 5)

One big wildcard

Weather. If conditions aren’t safe or workable, GDOT says the schedule could change.

Past stories

I-285 closure slows traffic, hurts businesses along Cascade Road in Atlanta

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Atlanta, GA

As FIFA World Cup nears, some MARTA riders raise safety concerns after recent attacks on transit system

Published

18 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

As FIFA World Cup nears, some MARTA riders raise safety concerns after recent attacks on transit system

Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 11:24 PM EDT
/ CBS Atlanta

Multiple recent attacks on MARTA have some riders questioning how safe they will feel using Atlanta’s public transit system as the city prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for the FIFA World Cup.

The tournament is expected to bring an unprecedented influx of travelers to metro Atlanta, putting additional attention on MARTA’s ability to safely move residents and visitors throughout the region.

Many Atlantans rely on MARTA every day as their primary mode of transportation.

ATLANTA, UNITED STATES – 2019/11/08: MARTA, or the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, train seen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

“I ride the system every day to go to work and other places,” MARTA rider Joshua Hudson told CBS News Atlanta.

“It is kind of unsafe on the weekends, but weekdays it’s pretty fine,” rider Kimiya Sawanat said.

Concerns about transit safety intensified after a woman was fatally stabbed aboard a MARTA train on May 30. The attack prompted some riders to question what additional steps MARTA can take to prevent violence, particularly as the city prepares for major international events.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Venues - Atlanta Stadium — ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 30: A detailed view of a Marta sign nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the signage is transitioned to become Atlanta Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on May 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Several riders told CBS News Atlanta they would like to see more police officers stationed throughout the system, especially at high-traffic stations. While they acknowledged concerns about safety, many said they believe MARTA can strengthen its security strategies ahead of the World Cup.

“We have been on the trains when the Braves play, and it is packed, but this is going to be a different level. It is almost like the Olympics all over again,” Hudson said.

MARTA officials said the agency plans to enhance security during the World Cup by utilizing its Emergency Response Center, deploying its mobile command vehicle and increasing officer presence at stations. MARTA also expects support from law enforcement agencies across the region.

“I’m concerned but not worried,” Hudson said. “I think it will be a good time, but we just have to do public safety.”

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Atlanta, GA

Miguel Almirón: World Cup profile | Paraguay & Atlanta United midfielder | MLSSoccer.com

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

MLS background

An Atlanta United icon, Almirón is in his second stint at the club.

After initially joining in 2017, Almirón led Atlanta to a historic MLS Cup triumph in 2018 alongside Venezuelan striker Josef Martínez. That came in the Five Stripes’ second year as a team.

Almirón’s success fueled a blockbuster move to English Premier League side Newcastle United, where he spent seven years. But Atlanta brought Almirón back stateside in 2025, and now, alongside head coach Tata Martino, he hopes to return the Five Stripes to their previous heights.

27g/38a in 101 MLS appearances
2x MLS Best XI (2017, ’18)
2x MLS All-Star (2017, ’18)
2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year

International experience

Almirón is among Paraguay’s most experienced players; his 75 caps are second-most on the squad.

The 32-year-old enters the World Cup as La Albirroja’s leader in goals. He’s scored nine international goals, with Antonio Sanabria (seven) the next-closest player.

This will be Almirón’s first World Cup appearance.

World Cup schedule

Paraguay are in Group D alongside the United States, Australia and Türkiye.

June 12: Paraguay vs. United States, 9 pm ET | Los Angeles, California
June 19: Paraguay vs. Türkiye, 11 pm ET | San Francisco, California
June 25: Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 pm ET | San Francisco, California

The 2026 World Cup has expanded from the usual 32 nations to 48 total. The top two teams advance from each group, and the top eight third-place finishers also make the knockout phase (Round of 32).

The tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, spans from June 11 to July 19.