Charlotte Airport: Navigating Its Efficient Gate System

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a major hub for American Airlines, with the airline operating around 90% of flights to and from the airport. The airport has a single terminal with 124 gates across five concourses (A-E). All concourses are accessible by walking, so there is no need to travel by train or shuttle between departure areas. Concourse A has 32 gates, Concourse B has 16, Concourse C has 18, Concourse D has 13, and Concourse E has 45.

Concourse A has 32 gates

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has 124 gates across five concourses. Concourse A, one of the five concourses, has 32 gates. The main pier serves American Airlines, while the two Concourse A North extension piers serve United, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Delta, Frontier, Sun Country, and Air Canada.

Concourse A is located in the north of the airport. It has 32 gates, including gates A1 to A8, A10 to A13, A21 to A25, and A28 to A29. The latter two sets of gates are further north and are accessible via a connector with moving walkways. The concourse is a 10-minute walk from the terminal lobby and a 22-minute walk from Concourse E.

Concourse A has a variety of shops and restaurants in the north and south concourses, as well as in the connector. The concourse features public art, including a Wright Brothers exhibit and a reimagined MD-82 plane tail by MotoArt. The space also includes auto-tinting window glass for temperature and sunlight control, seats equipped with charging capabilities, and restrooms.

The recent expansion of Concourse A, which added 10 new gates, cost $241 million and was financed through bonds, passenger facility charges, and a state grant from the North Carolina Airport Improvement Program. The expansion was completed in September 2024 and was built on a former rental car site that was demolished in 2016.

Concourse B has 16 gates

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has one terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. All five concourses are connected to the central terminal building, which houses ticketing, security, and baggage claim.

The airport covers 5,558 acres of land and is located roughly 6 miles west of Charlotte's central business district in North Carolina, USA. It is the primary airport for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

CLT is a major hub for American Airlines, which operates around 90% of flights to and from the airport. The airline has two Admirals Club lounges in Concourses B and C.

The airport has been undergoing various expansion and renovation projects to enhance its facilities and accommodate growing passenger numbers. For example, in 2024, Concourse A was expanded to add 10 new gates, bringing the total number of gates at CLT to 124.

With a phased approach, new developments are being launched yearly through 2026. These projects include expanding the terminal lobby, adding new security checkpoints, and providing pre-security concession spaces, charging stations, and new ticketing counters.

Concourse C has 18 gates

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has one terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. All five concourses are connected to the central terminal building, which houses ticketing, security, and baggage claim.

Concourse C, with 18 gates, serves exclusively American mainline domestic flights. It is located in the southeast area of the airport. Just outside of the concourse is a large American Airlines Admirals Club, situated in the D and E gate connector. The closest security checkpoint is checkpoint C.

There are several shops and restaurants in Concourse C, and flights are operated exclusively by American Airlines. To reach the D and E gates, take a right out of Concourse C, or to reach the A and B gates, take a left.

Concourse D has 13 gates

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has one terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. The airport is located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina's central business district.

Concourse D is the main concourse for international flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It has 13 gates: D1, D3-D6, D8, D10, and D13. The closest security checkpoints to Concourse D are checkpoints D and E, which are on the east side of the terminal.

Concourse D is located on the east side of the airport. To reach Concourse E from Concourse D, take a right. To reach the other concourses, continue straight along the moving walkways.

There are several shops and restaurants in Concourse D, with more located in the D/E connector. An American Express Centurion Lounge can also be found in the Concourse D/E connector on the mezzanine level.

The airport has a total of 5 lounges, and Priority Pass members can access The Club CLT and Gameway. Day passes can be purchased for the American Airlines lounges, and hourly passes can be purchased for Minute Suites.

The airport served over 53 million passengers in 2023 and is the second-largest hub for American Airlines after Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

Concourse E has 45 gates

Charlotte Douglas International Airport has one terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. Concourse E, which is situated on the east side of the airport, has 45 gates.

Concourse E is home to American Eagle's CLT operation, which is the largest express flight operation in the world. Contour, which has an interline agreement with American, also operates its Essential Air Service flights from Concourse E.

The concourse has 33 gates numbered E1 to E13, E18, E20 to E31, E36 to E38, E40, E41, E43, and E45. To access Concourse E, passengers need to take the escalator or elevator down to level 1 from the connector, where there are moving walkways.

To reach Concourse D, take a left out of Concourse E, or to reach the other concourses, take a right and walk along the connector. It is possible to walk between the two furthest gates within 15 minutes, and wheelchair assistance is available for passengers with mobility issues.

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