Alstom awarded five-year contract extension to operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The Plane Train is an integral part of the world’s busiest airport, connecting passengers easily even as the airport has grown, ensuring that traveling between terminals never takes more than a few minutes. Alstom operates the Plane Train 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2025, the system set an all-time record by transporting 95 million passengers. 

“For more than four decades, our partnership with the City of Atlanta has been defined by a shared commitment to delivering an exceptional passenger experience for travellers,” said Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. “Our track record of delivering on these commitments and partnering with our customers is why Alstom has such long-standing contracts in our operations and maintenance business. Our team in Atlanta works around-the-clock, 365 days a year to support the world’s busiest airport with safe, efficient mobility solutions.”

Kenny Williams, ATL’s Airport Transportation Systems Director, said, “By continuing this relationship, we are investing not only in safe, 24/7 mobility for our passengers but also in the skilled men and women here in Atlanta who keep the Plane Train running every single day.”

The Plane Train runs along a 2.8-mile-long underground tunnel that connects all of the airport’s concourses and terminals. Currently, Alstom is also engaged in two capital projects at ATL: improving the system’s infrastructure and supplying 63 Innovia APM R vehicles to augment and refresh the airport’s fleet. These measures will further boost passenger capacity by enabling more trains per hour.

Enhancing mobility for the world’s busiest airport

The extension of the operations and maintenance contract takes effect upon signing and includes two 1-year options.

The agreement covers

• 24/7 operation of the APMs;

• power and electrification;

• maintenance of vehicles and guideway;

• and cleaning the tunnel, platforms, and other facilities.

It will allow Alstom to retain and continue to develop the nearly 140 skilled employees currently working at the site. In addition to providing high levels of service and reliability to airport passengers and employees, Alstom’s local team is also engaged in the greater Atlanta community in a number of ways, such as partnering with local food banks and participating in Toys for Tots holiday drives. 

The operations and maintenance agreement in Atlanta is an example of Alstom’s FlexCare Operate portfolio, which provides a wide range of services based on customer needs. It offers customers reduced operating costs and increased efficiencies developed from more than 40 years of experience in the field. Alstom provides operations and maintenance services to more than 20 transportation customers worldwide, including more than 10 in the U.S., where it is the number one private rail operator.

Industry leading solutions 

Market leading for 50+ years, the driverless Innovia APM is an efficient transportation solution, specially designed to offer quick and convenient service for commuters between airport terminals, to and from airports or within cities. Alstom has supplied more than 30 automated people mover systems globally, currently operating in 13 of the world's busiest airports. In the United States, Alstom is the number one provider and operator of airport people movers.

As the leading rolling stock and rail services provider in the U.S., Alstom has delivered more than 12,000 new or renovated vehicles for domestic rail agencies and airports, including those in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New Jersey, and delivered the first high-speed trains made in America. Alstom is also the number one private rail operator in the country, serving more than 20 rail and airport customers and moving millions of passengers daily. 

[1] This order was booked in the fourth quarter of Alstom’s fiscal year 2025/26.

ALSTOM™, FlexCare Operate™ and Innovia™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.