The manufacturer on May 7 said the delivery is part of an $87 million project, its largest APM replacement contract to date.
The new vehicles—being built at Alstom’s Milfflin, Pa., plant—have been “re-engineered with energy-efficient features and lightweight aluminum bodies, reflecting ATL’s commitment to sustainability, safety, and innovation,” according to the Georgia airport, which is ranked as the world’s busiest by passenger traffic and served more than 108 million passengers last year.
When the vehicles start entering service in 2026, they will not only help improve the reliability of ATL’s APM system—known as the Plane Train—but also support its expansion.
The Plane Train system opened in 1980 and moves passengers across the seven-concourse airport. Bombardier Transportation operated and maintained it until being acquired by Alstom in 2021. The system has faced increasing demand from the rising number of users. To address this, a progressive design-build (PDB) team—led by designer Delve Underground and contractor Clark/Atkinson/Technique JV and including architect STV—recently extended the Plane Train’s tunnel by 700 feet, including a 133-foot spur at the system’s terminus. The Western Extension project will streamline train turnaround operations and reduce train headway, thereby boosting the system’s capacity. The extension is expected to be fully operational in first-quarter 2026. Another capacity booster: The Plane Train system will have 73 vehicles, up from the current 59, in the next two years, according to a FOX 5 Atlanta report.
“Over the last 40 years, Alstom has proudly partnered with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to transport passengers at one of the world’s busiest airports,” Alstom Americas President Michael Keroullé said. “Alstom’s new Innovia APM vehicles will help the airport enhance capacity, support its expansion, and ensure travelers can smoothly embark on their next adventure or return home to their families.”
Alstom’s Innovia APMs run at 15 airports across the United States, including Denver International Airport, which received 26 new vehicles in 2024.
