
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is an international airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of the city's central business district. The airport features a single terminal with 5 concourses (A-E), providing a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounge options. In 2019, CLT was the 11th busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger traffic, having processed over 50 million passengers.
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What You'll Learn
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport is located 6 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina
- The airport features 1 central terminal and 5 concourses, providing dining, shopping and lounge options
- In 2019, the airport was the 11th busiest in the US in terms of passenger traffic, serving over 50 million passengers
- The airport is home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard
- The Destination CLT development plan represents a $2.5 billion investment into the airport's future growth

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is located 6 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, it was later renamed Douglas Municipal Airport for Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., Charlotte's mayor when the airport was first built. In 1982, the airport was renamed to its current name. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the primary airport for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area and is among the busiest airports in the world. The airport covers 5,558 acres (2,249 ha) of land and has 3 operating runways and one passenger terminal with 124 gates across 5 concourses.
In 2019, the airport was the 11th busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger traffic, processing over 50 million passengers, and was the fifth-busiest in terms of aircraft operations, ranking sixth globally. The following year, in 2021, CLT grew to become the sixth busiest airport in the US. In 2023, Airports Council International ranked CLT as the seventh busiest airport worldwide for the number of arrivals and departures, and ninth in North America for passengers. Passenger counts reached a record-breaking 58,811,725 in 2024, while aircraft arrivals and departures rose to 596,583.
The airport has seen several expansion projects in recent years, including the East Terminal Expansion, which added 51,000 square feet of passenger amenity space, and the $2.5 billion Destination CLT airport development plan, which includes a $90 million terminal renovation project of Concourses A, B, C, and D, as well as the Atrium. Additionally, the FAA is constructing a new 367-foot control tower, which will be the second-tallest air traffic control tower in the US and the ninth-tallest in the world.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers nonstop air service to more than 188 destinations globally and is home to seven major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers. The airport is highly regarded by passengers for its modern, clean, and safe facilities, as well as its efficient operations and ample dining and shopping options.
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The airport features 1 central terminal and 5 concourses, providing dining, shopping and lounge options
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a major hub for American Airlines, which operates most of the airport's flights. The airport features one central terminal and five concourses (A-E), providing a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounge options.
Concourse A North, a nine-gate expansion, was completed in 2018 and features a massive digital artwork titled "Interconnected" by Refik Anadol. The East Terminal Expansion, which opened in November 2019, added 51,000 square feet of passenger amenity space, including a food court known as "The Plaza" and an upper-level Centurion Lounge.
The airport's original passenger terminal still exists and is utilised for offices and training rooms by various aviation-related organisations. The terminal is easily accessible, with all concourses connected to it and each other. Passengers can walk between the two furthest gates within 15 minutes, and wheelchair assistance is available for those with mobility issues.
CLT offers a range of services, including a TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center, Global Entry for expedited international clearance, and a variety of lounges, such as the American Airlines Admirals Clubs and the USO lounge for active military personnel. The airport also has a wide range of dining and shopping options for travellers to enjoy while waiting for their flights.
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In 2019, the airport was the 11th busiest in the US in terms of passenger traffic, serving over 50 million passengers
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is an international airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte's central business district. In 2019, the airport was the 11th busiest in the US in terms of passenger traffic, serving over 50 million passengers. It was also the fifth-busiest in terms of aircraft operations, ranking sixth globally.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a major hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights. The airport features a single terminal with 5 concourses (A-E), providing a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounge options. The concourses are all accessible from the main terminal and each other, and passengers can walk between the two furthest gates within 15 minutes. Charlotte Douglas has 5 security checkpoints across the terminal, with easy access to each concourse. The airport also has two dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes, one at checkpoint B and one at checkpoint D, for expedited security clearance.
In recent years, Charlotte Douglas International Airport has undergone significant expansion and development. In 2018, Concourse A North, a nine-gate expansion, was completed, followed by the opening of the new terminal roadway in late 2019. The East Terminal Expansion, which added 51,000 square feet of passenger amenity space, also opened in November 2019. This expansion included the addition of a food court, "The Plaza", and a Centurion Lounge on the upper level. The airport has also seen investments of up to $2.5 billion for future growth, including a new control tower that will be the second-tallest in the United States and the ninth-tallest in the world.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a commercial-civil-military facility, home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions over the years. It is operated by the city of Charlotte's aviation department and covers 5,558 acres of land.
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The airport is home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a commercial-civil-military facility located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina's central business district. The airport is the primary facility for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
CLT is home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and its host unit, the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard. The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1935 when it was established as Charlotte Municipal Airport. In 1936, the airport opened, operated by the City of Charlotte, and Eastern Air Lines began scheduled passenger service in 1937.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions. In 1982, it was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and it has since become one of the world's busiest airports. In 2019, CLT was the 11th busiest airport in the United States for passenger traffic, serving over 50 million passengers. It was also the fifth busiest in terms of aircraft operations, ranking sixth globally.
The airport's growth has led to the need for further expansion. The Destination CLT project is a $4 billion renovation and construction campaign that will bring expanded concourses, terminals, and a fourth parallel runway. The East Terminal Expansion, completed in November 2019, added 51,000 square feet of passenger amenity space across three levels, including a food court and a Centurion Lounge.
CLT offers nonstop air service to more than 188 destinations worldwide and is home to seven major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers. It is a fortress hub for American Airlines, which operates most of the airport's flights.
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The Destination CLT development plan represents a $2.5 billion investment into the airport's future growth
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is an international airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located roughly 6 miles west of the city's central business district. In 2019, it was the 11th busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger traffic, having processed over 50 million passengers.
The Destination CLT development plan was announced in 2015 and represents a $2.5 billion investment into the airport's future growth. The plan includes a range of projects aimed at enhancing the airport's infrastructure and improving the passenger experience. One of the key components of the plan is the expansion of the airport's terminals and concourses. This includes the $90 million renovation of Concourses A, B, C, D, and the Atrium, which involves replacing carpets with terrazzo, upgrading lighting, remodelling bathrooms, and installing new seats with charging capabilities.
The East Terminal Expansion, which opened in November 2019, added 51,000 square feet of passenger amenity space across three levels. The main level, known as "The Plaza", features a food court with a hanging artwork centerpiece titled "Loops" by Christian Moeller. The upper level includes a Centurion Lounge. Another notable aspect of the Destination CLT plan is the construction of a new control tower. Separate from the Destination CLT family of projects, the FAA is building a 367-foot control tower south of the CLT passenger terminal, which will be the second-tallest air traffic control tower in the United States when complete.
Additionally, the plan includes the expansion of Concourse A with a nine-gate addition completed in summer 2018, and the construction of a new terminal roadway that opened in late 2019. The $608 million signature lobby expansion project, known as the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE), is also part of the Destination CLT plan, adding 366,000 square feet of new and renovated space. Other future terminal expansions under the Destination CLT umbrella include Phase II of the Concourse A Expansion and Phase VIII of the Concourse E expansion.
The Destination CLT development plan is a significant investment in the growth and enhancement of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, aiming to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and improve the overall airport experience.
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Frequently asked questions
CLT, or Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is an airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located roughly 6 miles west of the city's central business district.
The airport was established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport. In 1936, it was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport for Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., who was mayor of Charlotte when the airport was first built. In 1982, it was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
The airport features a single terminal with 5 concourses (A-E), providing a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounge options. There are 5 security checkpoints and 2 dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes. The airport also has a Global Entry program for expedited international clearance of pre-approved, low-risk passengers.











































