CLT Completes Landmark Terminal Lobby Expansion
Nearly two decades in the making, the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is no longer a vision or a construction site – it’s a reality. Planning began in 2008, construction started in 2019, and this month CLT celebrates completion of what CEO Haley Gentry calls “the most ambitious, most transformative project in CLT’s history.”
“It takes hundreds of companies and thousands of people involved in planning, design, construction and management of an effort this monumental,” Gentry said. “And that doesn’t even include the millions of passengers who experienced this arduous process with us. Thank you, Charlotte.”
The TLE is the signature project of Destination CLT, the Airport’s $4 billion capital investment program, which also includes concourse renovations, Concourse A and E expansions, The Plaza concessions hub and a new Fourth Parallel Runway.
By the Numbers
Expanding the terminal lobby of the world’s sixth-busiest airport was a feat of numbers alone:
- $608 million project – largest construction contract in CLT history
- 5 million man-hours from about 6,000 workers
- 175,000 sq. ft. of new space, plus 191,000 renovated sq. ft.
- 146,000 sq. ft. glass canopy shielding passengers curbside
- 16-lane curb front to ease drop-off and pick-up congestion
- 11 new art installations, including the iconic Queen Charlotte statue
The 15-foot, 3,000-pound statue of Queen Charlotte now commands the center of the lobby, framed by natural light, skybridges and subterranean walkways that improve passenger flow.
Benefits for Passengers
The expansion was designed with travelers in mind:
- Security: Consolidated from five to three checkpoints with 21 lanes, including 11 Automated Screening Lanes that process 600 more passengers per hour.
- Baggage Claim: Eight high-capacity carousels improve efficiency.
- Vertical Circulation: New escalators and elevators speed connections between ticketing and baggage claim.
- Check-in: Modernized ticket counters enhance the customer experience.
- Concessions: Dunkin’, Charlotte News & Gifts, and Queen Charlotte’s Kitchen bring food and retail to the pre-security lobby.
Why It Was Needed
When CLT’s terminal opened in 1982, the Airport served 2.7 million local passengers. By 2024, that number had climbed to 9 million — a 26% jump since 2022. Overall, CLT welcomed a record 58.8 million passengers last year.
With 157 new residents moving to Charlotte daily, the old lobby could not keep up. At peak times, checkpoints overflowed into crowded hallways. The 175,000 sq. ft. of added space relieves congestion and gives travelers more breathing room.
“The project has transformed CLT,” said Chief Operating Officer Jerome Woodard. “Gone are the days of low ceilings, dark overcrowded lobbies and checkpoints bursting at the seams. Gone are the days when operations outpaced infrastructure and passengers waited outside just to enter. Today, CLT delivers a superior facility that has dramatically elevated the travel experience.”
The Journey
The TLE spanned six phases over nearly two decades. Early planning began in 2008, but before expansion could start, CLT had to relocate the terminal roadway, demolish two parking decks, and move the Queen Charlotte statue.
Construction began in December 2019. Key milestones included:
- Groundbreaking – December 2019
- First subterranean walkway opens – July 2022
- West ticket counters debut – March 2023
- Queen Charlotte statue unveiled – October 2023
- East side lobby and Checkpoint 1 open – November 2023
- Skybridges open – July 2024
- Roadway canopy completed – February 2025
- Final checkpoint opens – March 2025
Design Highlights
The new lobby blends modern design with Charlotte’s character. Natural light floods the open space, anchored by Queen Charlotte’s Court. Rocking chairs, benches and colorful seating invite travelers to pause.
Architectural details reflect the region and city: scalloped ceilings echo Piedmont hills, a gold ribbon nods to Charlotte’s gold rush history, and the oculus skylight symbolizes the queen’s crown. Doorframe gingham patterns recall Charlotte’s textile industry, while shades of blue honor local sports teams.
Eleven large-scale art installations further define the space, including Meridian, Restless Sea, Carolina Canopy, and the centerpiece Queen Charlotte statue.
Positive feedback about the TLE has not only been nationally, but worldwide. “Other airports are very interested in what’s going on at CLT,” said Architect Ben Goebel, Senior Vice President at Gresham Smith. “We’ve even had airports overseas asking about CLT’s signage and design.”
Challenges Along the Way
The five-and-a-half-year build wasn’t without a few bumps along the way. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and created uncertainty about passenger volumes. Steel shortages and social distancing required schedule adjustments.
Meanwhile, local passenger traffic surged faster than forecast, reaching 40,000-plus people on peak days in 2024. Lane closures and construction walls often greeted travelers, prompting CLT’s campaign signs: “Pardon our Royal Mess. We’re Building an Airport Fit for the Queen.”
Chief Infrastructure Officer Jack Christine credits extensive preplanning for remaining on time and on budget. “We never had to stop and change direction. That preparation was the key to our success. Every project has hiccups, but the team delivered CLT’s most complex project ever.”
What’s Next
The TLE may be complete, but construction at CLT continues. Renovations are underway in Concourses D and E, scheduled to finish by 2027. A new Fourth Parallel Runway is planned for 2027, and Phase III of the Concourse A expansion is in design.
“People ask me, when will the construction ever be done?” Christine said. “And my answer is, ‘I hope never.’ If it is, it means we’ve stagnated — not only as an airport, but as a community.”