Airport Awards 2024

General Director of the Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Balram Bheodari leads Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as North America’s most efficient airport, crediting his extensive knowledge and keen attention to aviation efficiency, which has enabled the airport to thrive in the most challenging markets. Bheodari combines operational expertise, integrity and selflessness to provide leadership throughout the Atlanta Airport. He oversees all aspects of airport management, including operations and a multi-billion dollar capital improvement program called ATLNext, designed to pave the way for Atlanta’s growth over the next 20 years. During COVID-19, Bheodari developed a comprehensive return to operations playbook that supported ATL’s recovery efforts. With guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and in light of evolving health and safety guidelines, Bheodari tirelessly promoted collaboration among stakeholders, team building among aviation employees and adaptability during uncertain times. Throughout the pandemic, he participated in daily conference calls with Airports Council International and other major hub airports to share best practices as well as information from federal agencies in Washington, DC and the CDC.

His goal was to restore customer confidence and ensure the airport was a safe facility using COVID-19 safety protocols. Since then, the airport has been named Airport of the Year by the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC).

At the height of the pandemic, Bheodari was the most passionate supporter of our mission-critical employees. Having worked his way up the career ladder, he fully appreciates the often thankless work these employees do to keep the airport safe and ensure its optimal operations. Morale never dropped because Bheodari made sure these employees felt valued through hazard pay, special meals, social media posts, intranet spotlight features and other incentives.

His actions and direction reflect his commitment to the three key pillars of our organization’s strategic plan: people, purpose and performance.