Is the Charlotte airport strike causing flight delays or cancellations? What we know

Over 1 million people are expected to fly out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport during the week of Thanksgiving — the busiest week of the year at the airport — and passengers should prepare for the possibility of flight delays.

Nearly 80 flights were delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as of Monday afternoon, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. That’s down from 214 delayed flights at the airport Saturday.

The delays come as hundreds of airport workers demanding higher wages went on strike 5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Here’s how the strike could impact your holiday travel schedule.

Are flight delays due to the strike?

Flights have not been delayed due to the strike, according to airport officials.

“There remain no impacts to the overall operation at CLT from the strike, and the airport is prepared to welcome record-breaking Thanksgiving holiday passengers,” airport officials told the Observer Monday afternoon in an email.

The employees who went on strike provide services to airport passengers including trash removal, cabin cleanup and wheelchair escorts, the Observer reported.

Workers are seeking higher wages and better working conditions. Employees make between $12.50 and $19 an hour, according to SEIU, which, at its highest, is about $39,500 gross annual income.

How long is the strike expected to last?

Workers previously said the strike would last for 24 hours, the Observer reported.

It’s unclear if they plan to extend the strike through the holiday travel period.

Am I eligible for a refund if my flight is delayed or canceled?

A new U.S. Department of Transportation rule that went into effect last month says if your flight is delayed by more than three hours for domestic trips, or more than six hours for international trips, you’re automatically entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel on the delayed flight, USA Today reported.

Airlines are already required to issue refunds if flights are canceled, as long as passengers do not choose to take an alternative flight.

How can I track my flight?

You can track your flight on the CLT Airport app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

You can also download the app for the airline you’re flying with for real-time flight updates.

Can I check Charlotte airport TSA wait times?

Yes, TSA wait times are available online at cltairport.com/airport-info/security.

There, you can view wait times for standard security and TSA pre-check security checkpoints.

Desiree Mathurin’s reporting contributed to this story.

This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 8:58 AM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.