Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public
international airportAn international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
located in
Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor
Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr.Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. was the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina from 1935 to 1941. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was named after him in 1941. A Democrat, he was also the first mayor of Charlotte that was directly elected by voters, because of a change in the city...
The airport gained its current name in 1982 and is currently
US AirwaysUS Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
' largest
hubAn airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
, with service to 155 domestic and international destinations as of 2008. In 2009, it was the 11th busiest airport in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in 2010, the
25th busiest airport in the worldThe world's busiest airports by passenger traffic are measured by number of total passengers . One passenger is described as someone who arrives in, departs from, or transfers through the airport on a given day...
by passenger traffic. In 2010, it was the 7th busiest airport in the world, based on traffic movements.
History
The early years
The city received a $200,000 grant from the
Works Progress AdministrationThe Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA) in 1930 to establish Charlotte's first municipal airport.
In 1936, the
Charlotte Municipal Airport opened and was operated by the City of Charlotte.
Eastern Air LinesEastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
began its first regularly scheduled passenger service in 1937. The original passenger terminal is still at the airport, and is now used as
Fenway Sports GroupFenway Sports Management is a company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts established by Fenway Sports Group in 2004. It styles itself as a "new kind of sports marketing agency," created by FSG to expand its footprint beyond its most famous holdings, the Boston Red Sox of Major League...
's Boeing 727 parking area. (FSG's North American motorsport venture, Roush Fenway Racing, is based in the old terminal).
The
United States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
took control of the airport and established Morris Field Air Base in 1941. The airfield was used by the
Third Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
for antisubmarine patrols and training.
1950 to mid-1960s: into the jet age
In 1950 Eastern Airlines began regularly scheduled passenger service from CLT. In 1954, a 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) passenger terminal opened, and the airport was renamed
Douglas Municipal Airport in honor of former Charlotte Mayor
Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr.Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. was the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina from 1935 to 1941. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was named after him in 1941. A Democrat, he was also the first mayor of Charlotte that was directly elected by voters, because of a change in the city...
The terminal had two floors, although passenger operations were confined to the ground floor. Ticketing and baggage claim were located on each side of an open space which bisected the building from north to south, and a mezzanine restaurant and various airline offices overlooked this open space.
Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
began regularly scheduled passenger service in 1956. The OAG for April 1957 shows 57 weekday departures on Eastern, 7 Piedmont, 6 Capital, 4 Delta and 2 Southern.
Eastern Air Lines began the region's first regularly scheduled jet service with the Boeing 720 in 1962. Eastern used the west pier,
PiedmontPiedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
and Delta the center pier, and United and
SouthernSouthern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
used the east pier.
Late 1960s to 1978: growth pre-deregulation
A major renovation project in the late 1960s expanded the facility considerably. Eastern opened a 'unit terminal' in 1967, replacing the old west pier. This new facility had 8 dedicated gates for Eastern, each with its own departure lounge, as well as a snack bar and separate baggage claim space. Eastern passengers continued to check in at the main terminal.
Two years later in 1969, a new enclosed concourse was built parallel to the center pier. When it was completed, Piedmont, Eastern and Delta moved in and the old center pier was demolished. The new concourse also had separate departure lounges, as well as restrooms and an enlarged baggage claim area. United's flights continued to the use the east pier, although an enclosed holdroom was added for waiting passengers.
In 1973, Eastern added two more gates to the end of its west concourse.
1978 to 1989: becoming a major hub
After
airline deregulationAirline deregulation is the process of removing entry and price restrictions on airlines affecting, in particular, the carriers permitted to serve specific routes. In the United States, the term usually applies to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978...
in 1978, passenger numbers at the terminal nearly doubled between 1978 and 1980, and a new 10000 feet (3,048 m) parallel runway and control tower were opened in 1979 to handle the increased passenger loads. The airport's master plan also called for construction of a new terminal across the runway from the existing site. Ground for this expansion was broken in 1979.
In 1979, Piedmont Airlines dedicated Charlotte as the
hubThe hub-and-spoke distribution paradigm is a system of connections arranged like a chariot wheel, in which all traffic moves along spokes connected to the hub at the center...
for its rapidly expanding route network. To accommodate the booming growth of the facility, a new 325000 square feet (30,193.5 m²) passenger terminal opened in 1982, and the airport was renamed
Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In 1987, Piedmont inaugurated non-stop service to
LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In the mid-1980s, the old terminal site was converted in to a cargo center, and the central concourse and Eastern 'unit terminal' were removed to make way for larger, more modern cargo buildings. The original main building still stands, however, and is used for office space. The old control tower was removed in the late 1990s.
In 1989, Piedmont merged with USAir, the new merged operations kept the USAir name.
1990 to 2004: the influence of US Airways
In 1990, a new 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) international and commuter concourse opened, and in 1991 further expansion of the terminal buildings continued, reflective of USAir's dominating presence at the airport. A monumental bronze statue of Queen
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-StrelitzCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
(the namesake of the city), created by
Raymond KaskeyRaymond Kaskey is an American sculptor.He was born in Pittsburgh. He studied architecture at Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University...
, was placed in front of the main terminal.
In 1992,
LufthansaDeutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
began
Boeing 747The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
service to Germany; however, this service was discontinued shortly thereafter. In 1994,
British AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
began service to London via a "global alliance" with USAir. This has since been discontinued, as the airlines have chosen opposite alliances. Lufthansa did restart service to Charlotte in 2003 and now operates flights between Charlotte and
MunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany utilizing Airbus A340-600 and
Airbus A330-300The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
aircraft.
In 1999, plans were announced for the construction of a regional carrier concourse (present-day Concourse E) and for the expansion of Concourses A and D.
In 2002, the new 32-gate Concourse E opened, and US Airways also began non-stop service to Belize,
FreeportFreeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
,
ProvidencialesProvidenciales is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The island has an area of and an approximate population of 15,542, making it the largest island in population and the third largest in area. It is served by the Providenciales International Airport...
,
Punta CanaPunta Cana is part of the newly created Punta Cana-Bávaro-Veron-Macao municipal district in La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches and balnearios, which face both the Caribbean and Atlantic, and it has been a popular tourist...
, and St. Croix.
In 2003, the main ticketing hall was expanded to the east, providing 13 additional ticketing counters and a new security checkpoint; and Concourse D was expanded by an additional 9 gates. That year, US Airways began service to
Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
,
Mexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and St. Kitts. Lufthansa also returned to the airport at this time providing service to
MunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
2005 and beyond
Following
America West AirlinesAmerica West Airlines corporate offices were in Tempe, Arizona and the main hub was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airline became part of the US Airways Group after a merger in 2005....
' acquisition of US Airways in a
reverse takeoverA reverse takeover or reverse merger is the acquisition of a public company by a private company so that the private company can bypass the lengthy and complex process of going public...
, Charlotte (CLT) remains the primary domestic hub for the airline. However, the majority of US Airways' international routes are served out of the airline's second-largest hub,
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
. In April 2007, Charlotte was the fastest growing airport in the US.
and is among the 30 busiest airports in the world in terms of passenger traffic.
Construction
Construction of Charlotte International's fourth runway began in the spring of 2007. At 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) long, the new "third parallel" will allow three independent approaches for arrivals even from the south, potentially increasing capacity by 33 percent. This new runway lies west of the three existing runways. The construction of the fourth runway required the relocation of parts of Wallace Neel Road (which had previously formed the Western boundary of the airport) to an alignment located further to the west.
Construction involved two phases. The first phase, which began in March 2007, included grading and drainage. The second phase included the paving and lighting of the runway. In August 2009, crews paved the last section.
On the morning of November 20, 2008 runway 18R/36L was changed to runway 18C/36C in anticipation of the upcoming commissioning of the new third parallel runway which would carry the 18R/36L designation when opened.
The runway opened January 6, 2010. The cost for the runway and taxiways was $325 million, with the federal government paying $124 million and the rest funded by a $3 fee added to the cost of a ticket.
The new runway was initially operational for visual approaches only, but is since February 11, 2010 approved for instrument approaches as well. The Runway construction also has planned to reroute several roads around the airport. Within these plans, a new interchange at the I-485 Outerbelt is planned to connect the airport and another relocated road.
As a part of a large-scale program to renew the airport, on June 29, 2009, the red "Welcome to Charlotte" sign at the passenger and main entrance of the airport, on Josh Birmingham Parkway, has been repainted blue and gray.
The airport plans to extend Concourse E by 120 feet (36.6 m) to accommodate additional aircraft. Unlike the rest of Concourse E, this new portion will have 2 levels to accommodate larger CRJs and A320s.
In addition, construction of a new International Terminal will begin in 2012, and Concourse E is planned to be disconnected to the main terminal, and would then be accessible by underground walkway. A shuttle will be built connecting the terminals, parking garages, rental car center, and eventually, light rail.
On September 28, 2010 construction officially began to expand the ticket counter area connecting it to Concourse E eventually making room for one more Security checkpoint area.
Parking
The parking options at Charlotte Douglas have drastically improved in recent years. There have been two new Daily Parking decks erected since 2005, providing almost 6,000 additional parking spaces for the traveling public. There are also two Long Term lots, with a combined 6,500 spaces. In addition, there is the Remote lot, which is between the Daily and Long Term lots, with about 1,500 spaces. A new 40-million-dollar Business Valet Parking Deck, which will utilize Post Tension Concrete for each massive 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) level, has now opened. Charlotte's close-in surface and deck parking exits are serviced by part-time personnel from booths apparently dating to the 1982 terminal expansion. The Daily parking rates at CLT are some of the lowest in the nation, with Long Term costing $4 & Remote parking costing $6 per day (Remote parking is closed as of January 5, 2009 for an unknown length of time). Daily Parking is $6 per day, and Hourly $2 per hour with a maximum charge of $16 per day. Hourly also allows the first 30 minutes of parking free of charge. Staff audits every parking area each evening to upload license plate data to ensure each vehicle is assessed the correct parking fee when it exits. The airport has recently aligned with a customer service program called SmartPark, which allows customers to call a hotline 24 hours a day to receive updates on parking conditions. Charlotte Douglas also has Valet parking that provides vehicle washing and detailing and even paintless dent removal services for an additional charge.
The Overlook
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is one of the few airports in the US that has a public viewing area. Here, visitors can watch planes take off, land, and taxi to and from runway 18C/36C. It is credited with having one of the best airport views in the United States.
Carolinas Aviation Museum
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is one of a small number of major "hub" airports in the world which has an aviation museum located on the field. The Museum, established in 1992, has a collection of over 50 aircraft, including a flying DC-3 which is painted in
Piedmont AirlinesPiedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
livery. The Museum also has an aviation library with over 9,000 volumes and a very extensive photography collection. Rare aircraft in the collection include one of only two surviving Douglas D-558 Skystreak aircraft, and the second (and oldest surviving) US-built Harrier, which was used as the flight-test aircraft and accumulated over 5,000 flight-test hours.
In January 2011 the Museum acquired N106US, the US Airways Airbus A-320 which Capt. Sullenberger landed in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. This aircraft, which was delivered on June 10, 2011, is about 35 years younger than any other commercial airliner on display in a museum, gives the museum an unparalleled technological lead over other aviation museums in the field of commercial aviation.
Accidents en route
- Thursday, January 15, 2009 US Airways Flight 1549
US Airways Flight 1549 was US Airways' scheduled domestic commercial passenger flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina...
an Airbus A320The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, from LaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
in New York, NY to Seattle-Tacoma International AirportThe Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5...
in SeattleSeaTac is an American city in southern King County, Washington, and an outlying suburb of Seattle, Washington. Incorporated in February 1990, the City of SeaTac is ten square miles in area and has a population of 26,909 according to the 2010 census...
via CharlotteCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
made an emergency landing in the Hudson RiverThe Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
after geese struck and disabled both of the engines. On January 5, 2011 the New York Times reported that the airframe will be placed on display at the Carolinas Aviation MuseumThe Carolinas Aviation Museum is an aviation museum on the grounds of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mission of the Museum is to educate the public about the importance of aviation to our society and inspire the next generation to excel academically in the...
.
Incidents
- On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 was an Eastern Air Lines Douglas DC-9-31, carrying 78 passengers and 4 crew, operating as a scheduled flight from Charleston, South Carolina to Chicago, Illinois, with an intermediate stop in Charlotte, North Carolina...
crashed on final approach en route from Charleston, SC. The crash site is 3.3 miles (5.3 km) due south of what is now Runway 36R west of York Road and north of Thornfield Road. The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the accident was a "lack of altitude awareness" of the pilots at critical points during the approach. During the approach the pilots conversed about numerous non-operational topics. With pilot attention drawn outside the aircraft, altitude "call outs" were neglected. With foggy treetops in sight, the pilot pulled back sharply and went to full throttle. The DC-9-31, traveling over 200 mph, clipped trees and snapped its wings, rupturing fuel tanks that spilled 13000 pounds (5,896.7 kg) of Jet A fuel. The fiery airliner slid through dense woods into a ravine, broke into pieces, and came to rest with most of its cabin exit doors blocked by pine trees. The Steele Creek Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly, extinguishing the fire within minutes. Of 82 people onboard, 13 survived the crash and fire. Two passengers died several days later, and a third died 29 days after the crash. Stephen ColbertStephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
, host of The Colbert Report on Comedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, lost his father and two brothers in the accident. Many passengers were wearing stylish "double-knit" garments that adhered to the skin when burned.
- On October 25, 1986, Piedmont Airlines Flight 467
On 25 October 1986, Piedmont Airlines Flight 467 was a Boeing 737-200 operating from Newark Liberty International Airport to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a stop at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. After about a 2 hour flight, the pilots were on a ILS approach onto runway 36R, just 24...
overran the runway at Charlotte-Douglas Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair. Of the 119 people on board, 3 passengers sustained serious injuries, and 3 crewmembers and 28 passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident. There were no fatalities.
- On 19 January 1988, a Mountain Air Cargo
Mountain Air Cargo is an American cargo airline based in Denver, North Carolina, USA. It is a major contract carrier for FedEx Express, operating in the eastern USA and the Caribbean. Previous operations in South America have been discontinued by FedEx who now operate jet aircraft in that area. Its...
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 200The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
(N996SA), on a flight from ErieErie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Charlotte, descended below the glide path on approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, collided with a tree and struck the ground 1.6 km away from the airport. The crash was due to pilot error. The pilot was killed. There was no one else on board.
- On July 2, 1994, USAir Flight 1016
USAir Flight 1016 was a regularly scheduled flight between Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. On Saturday, July 2, 1994, the plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 registered N954VJ, departed Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 18:15 EST...
crashed in a residential area on approach, killing 37. The crash of the DC-9 was attributed to windshearThe Windshear Full Scale Rolling Road Wind Tunnel is an automotive wind tunnel in Concord, North Carolina.In January 2008 Wind Shear, a division of US machine tool builder Haas Automat-80.7ion, completed construction on one of the most advanced automotive wind tunnels in the world. The full-scale...
during a thunderstormA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
. The flight originated in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
- On January 8, 2003, US Airways Express Flight 5481 crashed at the airport, killing all 21 people aboard. The flight was operated by Air Midwest
Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as US...
, an independent airline operating under a US Airways ExpressUS Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
codesharing agreement.
- On May 29, 2009, a runway incursion occurred on Runway 18L between US Airways Express Flight 2390, a CRJ-200, and a general aviation Pilatus
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. is an aircraft manufacturer located in Stans, Switzerland. The company employs more than 1,100 people.-History:The company was established in 1939, but it was not until 1944 that a Pilatus-built aircraft, the SB-2 Pelican, first took to the air...
PC-12 turboprop. While Flight 2390 was on its takeoff roll, the general aviation aircraft was instructed to taxi into position and hold on the same runway for an intersection departure. The aircraft came within 10 feet of each other. There were no injuries.
- On August 28, 2010, US Airways Express flight 2455 traveling from Washington DC to Nashville TN, was diverted to Charlotte NC after a windshield cracked, of the 14 passengers and 3 crew members no one was hurt.
- On Monday, March 28, 2011, a US Airways Boeing 737-400
The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new...
, flying from Philadelphia to Charlotte, appeared to have a bullet hole in the side of the fuselage. The bullet did not pierce through into the cabin and no injuries were reported.
Concourses, airlines and destinations
Concourse A
- Concourse A has 12 Gates, and is the only concourse not used by US Airways
Concourse B
Concourse C
Concourse D
- Concourse D has 13 Gates and serves as the international concourse. All international arrivals without customs preclearance are handled at this facility
Concourse E
- Concourse E has 32 Gates, and is mainly used for US Airways Express
Airline Lounges
US Airways Club: Concourses B and C/D connector
USO Lounge: Atrium
There was an additional US Airways Club located in Concourse D, which was closed due to US Airways costcutting.
British AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
also operated a lounge in the Main Atrium, which became a USO Lounge after they canceled service to Charlotte.
Cargo Airlines
Top destinations
Busiest Domestic Routes from CLT (August 2010 – July 2011)
| Rank |
City |
Passengers |
Carriers |
| 1 |
 Atlanta, GAHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
|
759,000 |
AirTran, Delta, US Airways |
| 2 |
 Dallas/Fort Worth, TX |
558,000 |
American, US Airways |
| 3 |
 New York, NY (LGA)LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
|
553,000 |
American, US Airways |
| 4 |
 Chicago, IL |
524,000 |
American, United, US Airways |
| 5 |
 Boston, MAGeneral Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
|
484,000 |
JetBlue, US Airways |
| 6 |
 Orlando, FLOrlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
|
468,000 |
AirTran, US Airways |
| 7 |
 Newark, NJNewark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
|
459,000 |
Continental, United, US Airways |
| 8 |
 Baltimore, MD |
454,000 |
AirTran, US Airways |
| 9 |
 Phoenix, AZPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States...
|
416,000 |
US Airways |
| 10 |
 Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
|
403,000 |
US Airways |
Reliever airports
- Concord Regional Airport
Concord Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located seven nautical miles west of the central business district of Concord, a city in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States...
- Rock Hill Municipal Airport
Rock Hill/York County Airport , also known as Rock Hill Municipal Airport and Rock Hill Regional Airport, is a public municipal airport and a Reliever airport of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport located 5 miles from the central business district of Rock Hill, in York County, South Carolina,...
Ground transportation
CATS'The Charlotte Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, is the public transit system in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It operates bus service around the Metrolina area and a historical trolley in Uptown Charlotte, and operates a light rail system, called LYNX which opened on November 24,...
Sprinter Enhanced Bus Service connects the airport to the downtown Charlotte Transportation Center (this route was formerly known as the "Route 5-Airport"). It arrives and departs in front of Zone D Baggage Claim in the commercial lanes, and is easily identifiable by its green livery and "Sprinter" decals.
The service is operated from the airport every 20 minutes Monday–Friday from 5:50am to 7:00pm, after 7:00pm, service is offered every 30 minutes until 12:02am. On Saturday and Sunday, Sprinter operates from the airport every hour from 6:00am to 8:00am, every half-hour from 8:00am to 9:00pm, and every hour from 9:00pm to 1:00am. Trip time from the airport to downtown is approx. 20 minutes (depending on traffic conditions) and one-way fare is $1.75 (this is the same as all local routes in the CATS system). View the
Sprinter Schedule for more detailed schedule and route information.
Military facilities
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is also home to the
USO of NC (
United Service Organization of North CarolinaThe United Service Organizations of North Carolina is the oldest continuously operating United Service Organization in the world as well as the first USO .The USO of North Carolina supports military, retired military and their families in or from North Carolina.The USO of NC today operates...
) travel center which functions as an airport lounge for military personnel, military retirees and their families. Staffed by volunteers, the centers offer comfortable chairs, books, magazines, television, movies, video games, kid play areas, and refreshments. Internet and phone use available free of charge
External links
- NCDOT Airport Information: