Memorial Day Launches Summer Travel Season at CLT

CHARLOTTE, NC – Summer travel is taking off at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), beginning with Memorial Day weekend where an estimated 1.05 million flyers are expected to arrive and depart between May 20–26. CLT anticipates steady demand and encourages everyone to plan ahead, arrive early and use the airport’s online tools before traveling. Peak travel days are expected to be Thursday, May 21; Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25. More than 5,000 flights are expected to depart during the week.

“Summer is traditionally our busiest time of the year and our team is ready to welcome passengers through Charlotte,” said Jeff Perry, chief operating officer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. “Customers should anticipate heavier crowds during peak periods and plan ahead by arriving at the terminal at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights.”

While the passenger forecast is approximately 8% lower than 2025’s holiday travel period, CLT continues to see strong and consistent local demand. Of the 531,000 departing passengers, approximately 202,000 (38%) will begin their trip in Charlotte, in line with 2025 numbers.

TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID is available at Checkpoint 2 for eligible customers with American, Delta, Southwest, and United. Passengers can also view real-time security wait times at cltairport.com and the CLT Airport App.

Travelers are encouraged to reserve parking in advance at parkCLT.com or on the CLT Airport app. Through the Royalty Program, members can earn rewards points when booking online via parkCLT.com or the CLT Airport app. Drivers should consider alternate routes and plan to arrive at their parking space at least 30 minutes before their intended terminal arrival time.

CLT will have additional staff in the terminal and along the curbside wearing bright yellow vests during peak travel times throughout the summer. Updates with significant impacts will be posted in real-time to the Airport’s social media accounts (@cltairport).

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