CLT’s Top 10 Moments of 2025
What a historic year 2025 was for the Airport. After five years of construction, the Terminal Lobby Expansion was completed this fall, a crowning achievement for CLT.
But within the past 12 months, there were also many other major highlights that landed top spots in the Airport’s history books.
Here’s a look back at 10 moments that defined CLT’s 2025.
The Airport marked a royal achievement on Sept. 17 – the completion of the $608 million Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE). The TLE adds 175,000 square feet of new space, plus 191,000 renovated square feet to the front of the terminal. Features include the Queen Charlotte statue as the centerpiece, two skybridges and underground walkways, pre-security concessions, 11 art pieces, a 146,000 square-foot steel and glass canopy, three checkpoints with 21 lanes, new escalators/elevators and modern ticket counters.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranks the sixth busiest airport worldwide for aircraft operations (landings and departures), according to Airports Council International’s (ACI) 2024 rankings. That’s up one spot from 2023. For passenger traffic, CLT takes the seventh spot in North America and is 23rd worldwide.
Etihad Airways - the official airline of the United Arab Emirates - unveiled plans on May 16 to operate four weekly nonstop flights from CLT to Abu Dhabi (AUH) (now starting in March 2026) using its flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This will be CLT’s longest route at 15 hours, its first nonstop service to Asia and its first scheduled 787 service.
American Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight and launch of nonstop service from CLT to Athens International Airport in Greece on June 5. The event included Greek cuisine, performances of traditional Greek dances and a blessing of the flight by Greek Orthodox priests.
On July 1, Modern Aviation became CLT’s fixed-base operator (FBO). The company now provides general aviation services, such as fueling, parking, ground handling, maintenance and passenger amenities for non-commercial aircraft, including corporate jets and privately owned planes. They also oversee 220,000 square feet of hangar space and 100,000 square feet of office space.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) contributed nearly $40 billion to the Carolinas in 2023 and continues to be a powerful economic engine, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation and North Carolina State University. CLT also directly impacted North Carolina's economy with $36.6 billion (a 14.4% increase from 2021), generated $2.1 billion in state and local tax revenue, supported 167,045 jobs and created $15.2 billion in personal income. That amounts to 5% of the state’s GDP or gross domestic product.
CLT held its Triennial Disaster Exercise on Oct. 4 to practice and test emergency response skills. The scenario involved the simulated aftermath of an aircraft emergency and mass casualties. More than 400 emergency personnel, Aviation Operations staff, volunteer victims, evaluators and observers converged on Taxiway Sierra to take part.
CLT Airport volunteer pianist and singer Josh King finished in the Top 8 on “American Idol” before his journey came to an end on the May 5 episode. This was a massive accomplishment for King, age 25, who has played piano and entertained travelers in the Airport Atrium since 2018.
The Airport received a new Yamaha Baby Grand Piano in the Atrium on May 27 due to the wear and tear on the previous Yamaha piano that had been a fixture at CLT since Aug. 4, 2008. Fun fact: The Airport’s first piano was installed in 1995. CLT’s new piano features auto play, which allows songs to be played without a musician tickling the ivory keys.
9.18 New Concessions opened in 2025 including Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar & Grill
The legendary rocker, Grammy Award winner and entrepreneur Sammy Hagar dropped by CLT June 24 to celebrate the opening of his newest Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar & Grill. Located on Concourse D, it serves a variety of food and beverage options daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Other concessions that opened in 2025 include: The Waterman Fish Bar(Concourse C), Charlotte (Atrium and Baggage Claim), Dunkin’ (Ticketing), Catawba Trade (Atrium).
The Fourth Parallel Runway hit a major milestone in November when crews placed the first lane of concrete on the actual footprint of the 10,000-foot runway.