Thanksgiving Travel Gets Its Gobble Back
The Thanksgiving travel season is underway with nearly 1.9 million passengers arriving and departing Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) between Thursday, Nov. 20, and Tuesday, Dec. 2. This represents a 10.5% decrease compared to 2024.
The terminal, however, will still be crowded. The busiest travel days are expected to be Saturday, Sunday, and Monday after Thanksgiving. Sunday, Nov. 30, will see the highest traffic, with an estimated 178,000 passengers passing through the Airport that day.
“The recent federal shutdown created challenges across the aviation system, but we do not expect significant impacts at CLT this holiday week,” said CLT Chief Business and Innovation Officer Ted Kaplan. “Our focus is on giving every traveler a safe and smooth trip.”
Arrive Early
Domestic passengers should be in the terminal at least two hours before departure, and international passengers at least three hours prior. Also, it’s recommended to check with your airline before arriving at the Airport for any possible schedule changes.
Terminal Lobby Transformation Complete
This will be the first major holiday post-construction as the CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion is now complete.
The five-year project expanded the lobby area by 175,000 square feet and renovated another 191,000 square feet. Significant features include the 149,000-square-foot glass canopy, two pedestrian skybridges, state-of-the-art automated exit lanes, and a 16-lane curb front – all designed to improve passenger flow and safety.
In addition, new pre-security concessions have been introduced for shopping and dining, including Dunkin' (Ticketing), Charlotte News & Gifts and Queen Charlotte’s Kitchen (both in Baggage Claim).
Concourse Renovations
If flying out on Concourses D and E, you’ll notice renovations are underway for new flooring, seating, lighting and restrooms. Concourse D’s upfit will be complete next year, and Concourse E’s makeover will wrap up in 2027.
Book Parking Early
Travelers are strongly encouraged to book parking when purchasing their ticket, as demand is high during peak times.
About 15,000 of the Airport’s 25,000 parking spots are available for online booking only. Visit parkclt.com to guarantee your preferred parking option and secure the best rates. For convenience at your fingertips, download the CLT Airport app to book parking and check shuttle and security wait times. Guests can also sign up for the Royalty Program to earn points and rewards.
Traditional Turkey Dinner – Thanksgiving Day
If you are craving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, there are a few places in the terminal that will be serving up all the turkey and trimmings. You can gobble on over to:
- Brookwood Farms (Atrium)
- PZA (Concourse E)
New Routes
Planning to squeeze in one more trip before 2025 ends or mapping out your 2026 adventures, the following flights are arriving over the next few months.
Frontier Airlines
- Nov. 21, 2025 – Service to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Nov. 23, 2025 – Service to Detroit (DTW)
- Feb. 12-22, 2026 – Service to New Orleans (MSY)
American Airlines
- Dec. 18, 2025 – Service to Vail (EGE)
- Dec. 19, 2025 – Service to Aspen (ASE)
Etihad Airways
- March 20, 2026 – Service to Abu Dhabi (AUH) rescheduled from May 6, 2026
Remain in the Know
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