Owais Crawford
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the world's busiest airports. In 2023, Airports Council International ranked it the seventh busiest airport worldwide for arrivals and departures and ninth in North America for passengers. The airport is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, roughly six miles from the city's central business district. It covers 5,558 acres of land and has five main terminals. While it is a large airport, it is relatively easy to navigate compared to other airports of similar size.
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What You'll Learn
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the world's busiest airports. In 2023, Airports Council International ranked it the seventh busiest airport worldwide for arrivals and departures. It was also ranked ninth in North America for passenger numbers, with 58,811,725 passengers passing through in 2024. The airport has also been ranked as the sixth busiest in the US and fifth busiest globally.
CLT is a hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights. The airport has three runways and one passenger terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. It is located roughly six miles west of Charlotte's central business district and is the primary airport for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
The airport's history dates back to the 1930s when it was established as Charlotte Municipal Airport. It was later renamed Douglas Municipal Airport for Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., who was mayor of Charlotte when the airport was built. In 1982, the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and a new 325,000-square-foot passenger terminal was opened.
CLT has seen continuous growth and expansion over the years, with new concourses and terminal renovations. The airport offers nonstop air service to more than 188 destinations worldwide and is home to several major, regional, and foreign air carriers.
Despite its size and busy nature, many travellers comment on how easy it is to navigate and connect flights at CLT compared to other large airports. The relatively compact design allows passengers to walk between all terminals without additional security checks, making it one of the most walkable airports in the US.
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The airport is 6 miles from Charlotte's central business district
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina's central business district. The airport is one of the world's busiest, ranking 7th in 2023 for the number of arrivals and departures and 9th in North America for passenger traffic. In 2021, it was the 6th busiest airport in the United States, and in 2019, it was the 11th busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic, processing over 50 million passengers.
The airport covers 5,558 acres (2,249 ha) of land and has 3 operating runways and one passenger terminal with 5 concourses and 124 gates. It is a hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights. The airport is also home to seven major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers.
Due to its size and the volume of traffic it handles, the airport can feel congested, with some travellers noting that it is poorly designed for the amount of traffic it receives. However, others appreciate its relatively compact design, which makes it one of the most walkable airports in the United States. The terminals and concourses are conveniently connected airside past the security checkpoints, allowing passengers to move between them without additional security checks.
The airport has invested in development plans, including the $2.5 billion "Destination CLT" plan, which includes a $90 million terminal renovation project for Concourses A, B, C, D, and the Atrium. The renovations include upgrades such as new seating with charging ports, remodeled bathrooms, upgraded lighting, and the replacement of carpet with terrazzo.
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It is a hub for American Airlines
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a major hub for American Airlines. In fact, it is the second-largest hub for the airline after Dallas/Fort Worth, following the merger of US Airways and American Airlines in 2013. As a fortress hub for American Airlines, the airline operates the majority of the airport's flights.
CLT is among the world's busiest airports. In 2023, Airports Council International ranked it as the seventh busiest airport worldwide for the number of arrivals and departures, and ninth in North America for passenger traffic. In 2019, it was the 11th busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger traffic, processing over 50 million passengers, and fifth busiest in terms of aircraft operations, ranking sixth globally.
The airport covers 5,558 acres of land and has 3 operating runways and one passenger terminal with 124 gates across 5 concourses. The terminal has been renovated as part of the Destination CLT airport development plan, a $2.5 billion investment into the airport's future growth. The renovations include upgraded lighting, remodeled bathrooms, and new seats with charging capabilities.
CLT offers nonstop air service to more than 188 destinations around the globe and is served by seven major carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers. The airport is also home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and its host unit, the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard.
Due to its status as an American Airlines hub, travellers can expect a high frequency of flights in and out of CLT daily. This means that missing a connecting flight is usually not a significant issue, as passengers can easily be accommodated on the next flight with minimal wait times. The airport is also known for being relatively easy to navigate compared to other large airports, with a walkable layout that allows for quick connections between gates and terminals.
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The airport has 5 terminals and 5 concourses
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a large airport located about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina's central business district. It is a hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights. The airport has 5 terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) and 5 concourses, with 124 gates in total.
Terminal A is the only terminal with two separate concourses. All terminals and concourses are connected beyond the security checkpoints, meaning passengers can walk between them without additional security checks. This accessibility is a notable feature of the airport, with one source stating that it is "one of the most walkable in the entire US". The airport's concourses have been renovated and expanded over the years, with Concourse A North, a nine-gate expansion, completed in 2018.
The airport is a commercial-civil-military facility, serving as the primary airport for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area. It covers 5,558 acres (2,249 ha) of land and has 3 runways. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking 7th in 2023 for the number of arrivals and departures. In 2019, it was the 11th busiest airport in the US in terms of passenger traffic, processing over 50 million passengers.
The airport's busy nature has led to concerns about ramp congestion, with some advising against booking short layovers at CLT. However, its size and layout offer advantages, such as the convenience of walking between terminals and the likelihood of quick re-booking with American Airlines if needed.
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It is North Carolina's primary airport for commercial and military use
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is North Carolina's primary airport for commercial and military use. It is located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte's central business district. The airport covers 5,558 acres (2,249 ha) of land and is operated by the city of Charlotte's aviation department.
CLT is among the world's busiest airports. In 2023, Airports Council International ranked it as the seventh busiest airport worldwide for arrivals and departures. It was also the ninth-busiest airport in North America for passenger traffic, with 58,811,725 passengers passing through in 2024. The airport offers nonstop air service to more than 188 destinations and is home to seven major carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers.
The airport has a long history, dating back to 1935 when it was established as Charlotte Municipal Airport. It was later renamed Douglas Municipal Airport in honour of Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., who was the mayor of Charlotte when the airport was built. In 1982, the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
As a commercial-civil-military facility, CLT is home to the Charlotte Air National Guard Base and the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard. The airport has three operating runways and one passenger terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. The terminal has recently undergone a $90 million renovation project, which included upgrades such as new seating with charging ports and upgraded lighting.
CLT is a fortress hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights. The airline merged with US Airways in 2013, making Charlotte the second-largest hub for the merged airline. The airport is easily navigable, with all terminals and concourses connected airside past the security checkpoints. This allows passengers to walk between terminals without having to go through additional security checks.
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Frequently asked questions
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the world's busiest airports. In 2023, it was ranked the seventh busiest airport worldwide for arrivals and departures, and ninth in North America for passenger numbers. The airport covers 5,558 acres of land and has five main terminals.
The airport is considered relatively easy to navigate compared to other large airports. All terminals and concourses are connected airside past the security checkpoints, so you can walk between them without going through additional security.
Charlotte Airport is extremely busy. In 2024, it served 58,811,725 passengers, with 596,583 aircraft arrivals and departures. It is a hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to walk from one end of the airport to the other.
