COVID-19 impacts on airline travel stifled Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s 2020 year-end passenger and operation numbers. The airport served 27.2 million passengers in 2020, a 46 percent drop from CLT’s all-time high of 50.2 million passengers in 2019. The last time CLT had similar numbers was in 2005.
“Nearly 30 million passengers is still a big number,” said Acting Aviation Director/CEO Haley Gentry. “By far, it’s definitely not where we want to be, but we are faring much better than many of our counterparts who have seen passenger reductions between 60 to 70 percent.”
Today, Charlotte Douglas is at 54 percent of its 2019 passenger numbers due to fewer business and leisure travelers.
Overall, aircraft operations logged 397,983 departures and arrivals in 2020 compared to 578,263 in 2019, a 31 percent drop.
Flights, however, were added last year from Charlotte. Early in the pandemic American Airlines identified CLT as a focus city as it rallied to rebuild its schedule. American launched service in 2020 to Appleton, WI; Bozeman, MT; Jackson Hole, WY.; Sioux Falls, SD; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Williamsport, PA and Montrose-Telluride, CO. Southwest Airlines also began flights to Denver, St. Louis and Phoenix.
CLT currently offers nonstop flights to 180 destinations, including 35 international locations and three U.S. territories.
Cargo, although slightly down, was the big winner of 2020 due to the popularity of e-commerce with 174,913 tons of goods transported through CLT versus 184,449 tons in 2019, a 5 percent dip.
The airport remained focused throughout 2020 on instilling confidence in passengers to fly again and to deter the spread of COVID-19. Numerous safety measures were implemented. A housekeeping crew of nearly 300 employees worked around the clock to provide daily and deep cleanings with extra attention given to high-touch points. Protective shields were installed at ticket counters and cashier booths, and touchless payment options were introduced at many concessions. Hundreds of signs were placed in the terminal reminding passengers to wear a face covering, wash their hands and social distance.
As a result, CLT earned the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR Facility Accreditation in December, which recognizes Charlotte Douglas has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facilities. CLT is the first airport in the state of North Carolina to achieve the accreditation. Nationwide just 13 airports have received the GBAC accreditation, although numerous others are in the process.
The airport’s high safety standards have been recognized by customers as well. In CLT’s most recent 2020 passenger survey, nine out of 10 passengers gave the airport high marks for the cleanliness of the terminal and eight out of 10 passengers were highly satisfied with the airport overall.
On another high note, Destination CLT, the airport’s $2.5 to $3.1 billion capital improvement program, continued making progress. Charlotte Douglas completed Concourse A and C renovations in 2020 and construction of the Terminal Lobby Expansion remains on schedule for completion in 2025.
“The past year has been a learning experience for all of us,” Gentry said. “If anything, it has taught us perseverance, resilience and how to develop multiple plans. We remain vigilant about the needs of our passengers and employees and are truly optimistic about what lies ahead for CLT in 2021.”
As an economic engine of the Carolinas, in 2019 CLT contributed $24.6 billion in annual economic input, $1.3 billion in state/local taxes, 169,390 jobs for NC residents and $6.8 billion in personal income, according to a report conducted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation.
