News Stories

The Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) is approximately a year away from completion, and the Fourth Parallel Runway is gearing up to begin concrete paving next year. Check out where these projects stand now.

The 17th annual Runway 5K raised $65,165, its largest amount ever, for Central Piedmont Community College Opportunity Scholarships. The race drew nearly 1,300 runners/walkers to CLT’s airfield on Oct. 19. The scholarships support up to $10,000 per student and are awarded based on their need. Recipients also receive a computer stipend of up to $1,200. Any remaining encumbered funds are deployed back into the scholarship and awarded to future new scholars. The Runway 5K has raised more than $226,000 in scholarship funds since 2019 and has provided a free college education for 20 local students. Of those 20 students, 11 have graduated and/or transferred to a four-year institution. This year’s top male and female winners were Christopher Zuerner of Charlotte crossing the finish line in 15 minutes, 16 seconds, and Milana Harwick of Charlotte with a time of 18 minutes, 39 seconds. Both received 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Mark your calendar. CLT’s next Runway 5K is scheduled for October 2025.

This Thanksgiving, the dinner table has some competition as the hottest holiday destination. The Airport is expecting its biggest travel season yet with an estimated 1.02 million passengers departing CLT Thursday, Nov. 21 through Monday, Dec. 2. That’s 7% above last year. The busiest days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday, Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving with over 90,000 departing passengers daily. Projections show on each of those days more than 38,000 local passengers will pass through TSA checkpoints at CLT, outpacing this year’s average of approximately 33,400 daily security screenings.

Destination CLT, the Airport’s $4 billion capital improvement program, remains on schedule for two of its biggest projects – the Terminal Lobby Expansion and Fourth Parallel Runway. Both will have big impacts at Charlotte Douglas.

Growing up in New Jersey as the daughter of a cross-country truck driver, artist Val Britton developed a fascination with mapping that informs her work. This personal history enriches her narratives, allowing her to connect deeply with her material. For Britton, creating public art is both a privilege and a challenge, as she translates studio work to larger scales. “I never thought I would be able to bring something so personal into work that could be seen by so many people.”

CLT is keeping the allure alive with seven new concessions that will pamper passengers with delicious food, great shopping and local spirits.

Two years ago, CLT Chief Infrastructure Officer Jack Christine was presented with an ask that he doesn’t receive every day. “We want to put a tail of an MD-80 in the terminal,” requested CLT’s senior architect Dennis Iskra. “I was a little taken back by it, but excited at the same time,” Christine said. “I am an aviation person at heart, for me, my response was if we can figure out how to do it, I’m game.”

CLT is on track to break its 50.2 million passenger record set in 2019. Mid-year numbers show from January through June 2023 the Airport served 25.5 million passengers, which is up 4% from the...

The action item of the day is Pack Your Bags. The following new nonstop flights are arriving at CLT: American Airlines Aug. 10 – Quebec City, Canada (seasonal through Nov. 2) Dec. 7 – St. Vincent and Grenadines (Saturday only service)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport hosted send-off celebrations for the USA Women’s Field Hockey and Taekwondo teams as they began their journey to the Paris Olympic Games.

The way many travelers enter Charlotte Douglas International Airport has become safer and more efficient. The change also will keep vehicle traffic flowing in front of the terminal. Starting today (July 31), customers walking between the terminal lobby and the Hourly Deck, or the Rental Car Facility will no longer have to cross eight lanes of traffic. Pedestrians will use either the newly constructed skybridges or the underground walkways.