Holiday Travel Sparkles at CLT

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is decked out for the holiday season, and our “fit check” is all things festive!

The terminal lobby and baggage claim are adorned with beautiful new holiday baubles and ornaments in blue, silver, and gold. CLT’s beloved reindeer brothers, Wilbur and Orville, look handsome as ever in the Atrium, while charming holiday doves greet everyone high above the entrance to Concourse E.

More than 2.7 million passengers are expected to arrive and depart at CLT between December 16, 2025, and January 4, 2026. This is a 13.4% decrease compared to 2024. The busiest total-traffic days are forecast to be Friday, Dec. 26, Saturday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

While it may be “the most wonderful time of the year,” it can also be one of the most stressful times to fly.

Don't Wing It, Prepare to Fly

Here are some tips to help you have a smooth trip:

Book Parking When You Book Your Ticket

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has plenty of parking options—nearly 25,000 spots—but about 17,000 are online booking-only, and spots fill up quickly during peak times and holidays.

• Visit parkclt.com to guarantee your preferred parking option and secure the best rates. For convenience, 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.

Allow Extra Time

• CLT suggests arriving at the terminal two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. During busy travel periods, you may need to allow extra time.

• Plan to reach the parking lot 30 minutes before your desired arrival time at the terminal, as you might need to take a shuttle bus from your location.

• Consider alternate routes in case of traffic congestion. Use a navigation app to avoid trouble spots.

Gift Ideas

Looking for that last-minute gift before you board? Just landed and realize you forgot that special present at home?

No worries! Let CLT play Santa. Visit our numerous retailers and concessionaires for gift ideas, stocking stuffers and other fun holiday cheer.

• New location: Market 704 opens Dec. 19 - Concourse A near Checkpoint 1

New Adventures Await

If you’re looking to hit the slopes over the holiday season or looking ahead to some 2026 adventures, these new routes might be just the ticket.

Frontier Airlines

• Feb. 12-22, 2026 – Service to New Orleans (MSY)
• March 6, 2026 – Service to Cancun (CUN)

American Airlines

• Dec. 18, 2025 – Service to Vail (EGE)
• Dec. 19, 2025 – Service to Aspen (ASE)
• February 12, 2025 – Service to Vero Beach (VRB)

Etihad Airways

• March 20, 2026 – Service to Abu Dhabi (AUH) rescheduled from May 4, 2026

Christmas Day/New Year’s Day Hours

• Airport Lost and Found: 8 am to 4 pm
• Information Desk: 5 am to 5 pm
• Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA): 9 am to 6 pm

Stay Informed

• Connect with your airline or monitor the CLT Airport app for flight updates. Check in for your flight before leaving home and save your boarding pass on your mobile phone.

• Please review the TSA website for information on what you are allowed to bring through security. You can also text “travel” to AskTSA (275-872) or send a message through Facebook Messenger, X (formerly Twitter), or Apple Messenger.

• Check the CLT Airport website and app for shuttle bus wait times and security checkpoint wait times.

Stay Social

For the latest Airport news, follow CLT on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.