Charlotte airport passengers still favor one destination. But there’s a new No. 2
The world’s most famous mouse and his friends continue to rule the Queen City’s runways, with their Florida home remaining the top destination for local travelers this year.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport provided top U.S. destinations for travelers in 2025. Charlotte’s airport is the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings, according to preliminary rankings by Airports Council International. CLT beat Los Angeles out of sixth place, pushing its airport to seventh.
Here’s where they traveled most this year domestically, from January through November:
1. Orlando, Florida
For the sixth straight year, Orlando was the No. 1 spot for travelers at CLT.
Known as the theme park capital of the world, Orlando is home to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and many other attractions.
For visitors looking to unwind by the sea, Cocoa Beach is the nearest coastal destination to Orlando, just an hour’s drive away.
2. Dallas-Fort Worth Region
This year, the largest region in Texas became the runner-up at CLT.
“Everything is bigger in Texas,” according to Lone Star residents. And that’s the case when it comes to New York and passenger bookings at Charlotte Douglas: DFW knocked The Big Apple from second to third place.
The area features notable attractions like the Dallas Museum of Art, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the Dallas World Aquarium. It also boasts the original Six Flags amusement park.
Fort Worth hosts American Airlines’ headquarters, and Charlotte Douglas serves as the airline’s second-largest hub, handling roughly 90% of all flights departing the airport.
3. New York
“The City That Never Sleeps” continues to keep Charlotte residents up and busy, although it dropped one spot from 2024.
New York City is packed with world-famous attractions, including the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Broadway’s iconic theaters.
As the business capital of the country, New York is home to more than 50 Fortune 500 company headquarters, making it a top destination for both Charlotte tourists and professionals alike.
4. Chicago
The Windy City kept its fourth-place spot among CLT passengers.
Chicago is home to many renowned attractions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park—famous for its shiny, bean-shaped Cloud Gate sculpture—and Navy Pier, which offers waterfront shopping, dining, and green spaces.
Visitors can also explore the Skydeck at Willis Tower, walk along the Magnificent Mile, or catch a game at historic Wrigley Field. The city’s vibrant neighborhoods feature a wide range of world-class museums, music venues, and restaurants.
In addition to being a top Midwestern tourist destination, Chicago is a major business hub, with corporate headquarters for companies like McDonald’s, Motorola Solutions and Quaker Oats.
5. Miami
Miami, the cultural and economic anchor for South Florida, knocked Boston out of the Top 5 rankings this year.
The city is well known for its beaches, nightlife and cultural attractions. Some of those highlights are South Beach, the colorful murals at the Wynwood Walls, the Art Deco District in Miami Beach and Bayside Marketplace, a waterfront shopping and entertainment complex.
With a busy port, Miami is also known as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” serving millions of tourists and passengers traveling to the Caribbean and Latin American countries.
