Atlanta Airport Offers Nonstop Flights to Wakanda
If you've been dreaming about visiting the enchanted nation of Wakanda, now is your chance. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is now offering nonstop flights to the Kingdom of Wakanda, the fictional East African nation at the center of Marvel's Black Panther film.
The airport tweeted a photo on Monday of a digitally altered gate screen with a departure flight to the fictional country.
Although the ATL flight isn't really going to Wakanda, Black Panther fans were still excited about the airport's homage to film. Since its posting, the photo has been shared across social media platforms and has reached thousands of people, including one of the film's stars, Lupita Nyong'o. Nyong'o even played along and inquired about the in-flight entertainment.
Atlanta's newly elected Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms even joined in on the fun and tweeted about why the busiest airport would offer a flight to such a special destination.
Given the film's success and deep ties to Atlanta metro, it's no surprise that Atlanta's airport would offer "flights" to Wakanda. Black Panther not only grossed more than $400 million worldwide over the Presidents' Day weekend, but the film also has greatly contributed to Georgia's film industry. Several locations around metro Atlanta were featured in the film, including the rock quarry at the Vulcan Materials Co. in Stockbridge, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The film also played a role in Georgia's film industry by employing more than 3,100 people in the state, according toThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"We love keeping our customers engaged," Hartsfield-Jackson's Director of Policy and Communications Reese McCranie told AJC. "And it's important for us to be part of the cultural conversation." The airport's social media team, which McCraine oversees, came up with the creative nod to the movie.
"We're incredibly proud that Atlanta has such an important role in the film industry," McCranie said.
Apparently, Orlando International airport had some fun, too, following the Black Panther movie success. MCO shared a photo of an airplane displaying a "Wakanda Air" and a black panther logo in an tweet on Tuesday. The tweet said "We're delighted to announce the newest member of the MCO family – Wakanda Air! Offering daily nonstop flights to the beautiful nation of Wakanda."
H/T AJC.com
Featured image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures