News Stories

Destination CLT, the Airport’s $4 billion capital investment program, is setting a high bar with expansion and renovation projects elevating the passenger experience.

CLT remains seventh worldwide and nationwide for arrivals and departures, according to Airports Council International (ACI) 2023 preliminary rankings that were released in early April. Charlotte Douglas lands ninth nationwide and 22nd worldwide for passenger traffic. The rankings come on the heels of a record-breaking year as CLT surpassed its all-time passenger record. Charlotte welcomed 53.4 million passengers in 2023, a 12% jump from 47.8 million passengers in 2022 and 6.5% above the previous record of 50.2 million passengers in 2019.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is home to the second largest hub for the world’s largest airline, American Airlines. With an average of 1,400 arrivals and departures each day, CLT is more airport than a city of Charlotte’s size needs. So, how did CLT become the major hub it is today?

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is preparing for the busiest summer travel season ever. After surpassing the local passenger record during spring break, enthusiasm for exploring shows no signs of slowing down. Summer travel is expected to rise 14% higher than last year and jump 24% over 2019.

The countdown has begun. The Sullenberger Aviation Museum, formerly Carolinas Aviation Museum, is opening June 1. Tickets for opening day are already sold out but are available for other days during the operating hours of 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Forty-four families boarded a flight to nowhere at CLT on April 13 that turned into a trip of a lifetime. It was part of Wings for All, an annual event hosted by CLT, Delta Air Lines and The Arc. The program gives people who have intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become familiar with the unique process of air travel without the real-life stress that sometimes goes along with it.

CLT visited the dark side for the terminal’s 42nd birthday on May 2, welcoming Star Wars characters to help celebrate. The Airport’s current terminal opened on May 2, 1982. Since the anniversary was close to Star Wars Day on May 4, the two events were combined to create an out of this world birthday. Darth Vader, two stormtroopers, along with an imperial officer and Grand Admiral Thrawn were greeted with comments such as “No way, this can’t be real” and “You have got to be kidding” as the Empire took over CLT for 90 minutes.

Spring fever is in full bloom and people are in the mood to travel! Between March and August, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expecting 23% more passengers than last year’s record-breaking crowds. CLT is preparing for the influx in several ways:

CLT will receive $27 million to replace 16 passenger boarding bridges and equipment used to power and air condition the jetways. The funding was announced Feb. 15 by U.S....

It’s no April Fool’s joke. CLT’s Airport Volunteers are changing uniforms on April 1. Their yellow bright shirts are out, and bright blue vests are in. The clothing...

With millions of passengers connecting through Charlotte Douglas International Airport each year, CLT is like the front porch of the South, welcoming people from all over the world to the Carolinas. What does a good southern front porch need? Rocking chairs, of course. Ask anyone who has flown to, from or through Charlotte what they remember about CLT and unfailingly they mention the rocking chairs.