Airport continues domination - record year and expansion plans
The Story
In 2014, Charlotte Douglas Airport hosted a recorded number of travelers – 44 million. This is a 2% increase over 2013 when the airport saw 43 million flyers.
The Facts
– American Airlines (which now includes US Airways after merger) operates roughly 90% of flights in Charlotte.
– Cargo tonnage increased from 129,799 tons in 2013 to 132,351 tons in 2014.
– International travelers increased from 2.8 million passengers in 2013 to 2.9 million in 2014.
Expansion plans include:
- Increase gate count from 94 to 164 (part of long-term plan).
- Building a 4th runway that would be 12,000 feet and cost about $92.5 million (part of long-term plan)
- Replacing 3 lane road in from of terminal with 8 lane road.
- Adding additional restrooms, passenger space and bridges to Concourse E that would increase square footage by 17,000 and cost $7 million.
.@CLTAirport presenting an expansion plan next week that calls for a 4th runway, increasing gates from 93 to 164 http://t.co/fA282ennEs #clt
— Ely Portillo (@ESPortillo) February 4, 2015
Quote
“The growth of Charlotte Douglas is a testament to our strength as a premier airport hub. Our location and strong business partnerships are key factors in our success. Looking ahead, the Airport will continue building upon our strengths to provide the highest level of customer service in the industry.” – Interim Aviation Director Brent Cagle.
C5’s Take
In 2014, our airport offered non-stop service to 147 destinations with an average of 696 daily departures. This means less connections. Less connections means less wanted to bang your head against the wall. We like not banging our heads against the wall and we believe our airport is a huge economic growth driver for Charlotte. It also has rocking chairs.
Photos: Davie Hinshaw & Todd Sumlin /Charlotte Observer, charmeck.org
This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 1:24 AM with the headline "Airport continues domination - record year and expansion plans."