CLT Sets Passenger Record as Flurry of Expansion Projects Try to Keep Pace

Charlotte Douglas International Airport set a record for passengers in 2019, officials announced Tuesday.

The airport hosted 50.2 million passengers last year, an 8% increase over the previous year.

In fact, that rate increase was the largest of the 27 busiest airports in the continental U.S., CLT’s TSA federal security Director Kevin Frederick said.

When the Charlotte terminal opened in 1982, it served 2.8 million passengers. In 2018, CLT had 46.4 million customers, according to the airport.

CLT is the country’s sixth busiest airport and is a major American Airlines hub. It has seen major construction in the last year, including the kick-off of a $600 million terminal lobby expansion project in December. Airport Chief Operating Officer Jack Christine told reporters at the time the airport has to keep expanding to host the increase in passengers.

The airport saw an average of 137,000 people a day last year, Charlotte Aviation Director Brent Cagle said.

“We’re growing because our many airline partners are adding new and additional service here in Charlotte,” he said. “And we’re also growing because of the construction and airfield expansions that we have been making and continue to make.”

Construction on the lobby — which will include adding 175,000 square feet to the facility, two overhead pedestrian walkways and two underground walkways — is expected to finish in 2025.

American Airlines operates out of 82% of the airport’s 114 gates, according to the airline.

The company announced last month it opened four more gates in Concourse A at CLT, putting American at just more than 700 daily flights out of the airport.

American now serves 149 destinations in 25 countries from Charlotte, said Dec Lee, American Airlines CLT hub operations vice president.

And passenger numbers are continuing to grow in 2020. From January to March of this year, American operated 2,580 more flights at CLT compared to the same time last year, Lee said Tuesday. “Which puts us well on our way to another record-breaking year,” Lee added.

A billion-dollar program

The airport’s ongoing renovations are part of Destination CLT, the $2.5 billion to $3.1 billion capital investment program renovating and expanding the airport.

Most recently, the airport opened American Express’ newest Centurion Lounge between Concourse D and E above “The Plaza” food court.

The Plaza is a new addition too. The $39-million construction, a 51,000-square-foot food court, opened in November.

The food court hosts a Shake Shack along with North Carolina favorites Bojangles’ and Wicked Weed Brewing.

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