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Fun in the Sun: Summer Travel Begins

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Passenger Experience

Slather on that sunscreen - the busy summer travel season is underway and CLT is ready to get you on your journey!

An estimated 6.7 million passengers are forecasted to fly in and out of CLT from June through August. July is expected to be the busiest month of the summer, with a forecast of 2.3 million passenger enplanements.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, CLT has several new options:

JetBlue Returning to CLT

JetBlue is returning to CLT. The low-cost carrier will offer three daily nonstop flights from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) starting July 9.

According to the company, JetBlue expects to operate nearly 130 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale this summer, marking the largest operation in the airline’s history from that airport - over 75% more daily flights than in 2025.

Earlier this month, JetBlue stepped up to assist Spirit Airlines customers and employees affected by Spirit’s shutdown by offering $99 rescue fares to stranded passengers and jump seats to crew members trying to get home.

New Daily Service to Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has announced it will soon offer daily service from CLT to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), June 15- Sept. 8, increasing from four weekly flights.

This follows the successful launch of the new route on March 20. It is CLT’s longest to date and the first to the Middle East, offering one-stop access to more than 40 destinations across the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Asia.

Etihad is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.

American Resumes Nonstop Service to Athens

If you are looking to visit ancient ruins or eat Greek cuisine, here’s your chance to do both. American Airlines has resumed its nonstop summer service to Athens, Greece (ATH) through October 23, 2026.

The 10-hour nonstop flight from CLT to Athens started last June.

New PA route

Beginning October 5, American Airlines will begin twice-daily service to State College, Pennsylvania – home of Penn State University.

State College is the largest borough in Pennsylvania and is also known as “Happy Valley” for its natural beauty and economic resilience during the Great Depression.

Visit the CLT Airport website to book with Jet Blue, Etihad, American or any of our airline partners.

New Restaurant

Before catching your flight, grab a bite to eat at the Airport's newest restaurant.

“Grounded In CLT” officially lands in the Atrium on June 19. It’s a cozy space designed to make travelers feel at home and enjoy their time in the Airport.

The restaurant is a handmade-burger concept that offers travelers a variety of burgers, handhelds, appetizers, salads, sides, and a full lineup of craft beer, wine and cocktails. They also offer vegetarian and kids' options.

Don’t Wing It: Prepare to Fly

CLT is all about taking the stress out of traveling. Check out these tips to ensure 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.

  • 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 thirty minutes before your desired arrival time at the terminal, as you might need to take a shuttle bus from your location.

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, 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.