Jump to content

Charlotte Douglas International Airport: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 200: Line 200:
| [[Lufthansa]] | [[Munich Airport|Munich]] | D
| [[Lufthansa]] | [[Munich Airport|Munich]] | D
<!-- -->
<!-- -->
| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]] | A
| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]] (begins April 25th, 2017), <ref>https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#search;f=CLT;t=MCO;d=2017-04-25;r=2017-04-29;tt=o;sel=CLTMCO0WN2860;q=clt+mco</ref> | A
<!-- -->
<!-- -->
| [[Ultimate Air Shuttle]] | [[Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport|Cincinnati–Lunken]] | FBO
| [[Ultimate Air Shuttle]] | [[Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport|Cincinnati–Lunken]] | FBO

Revision as of 01:54, 1 October 2016

This article is about the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. For municipal airports with the same name, see Douglas Municipal Airport (disambiguation). For international airports with the same name, see Douglas International Airport (disambiguation).

Charlotte Douglas International Airport
File:CharlotteDouglas International Airport Logo.svg
United States Geological Survey (USGS) aerial image before 18R/36L was built
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Charlotte
OperatorCharlotte Aviation Department
ServesCharlotte metropolitan area
Location5501 Josh Birmingham Parkway
Charlotte, North Carolina
Hub forAmerican Airlines
Via Air
Elevation AMSL748 ft / 228 m
Websitewww.charlotteairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
CLT is located in North Carolina
CLT
CLT
Location within North Carolina/United States
CLT is located in the United States
CLT
CLT
CLT (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18L/36R 8,676 2,644 Asphalt/Concrete
18C/36C 10,000 3,048 Concrete
18R/36L 9,000 2,743 Concrete
5/23 7,502 2,287 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers44,876,627
Aircraft operations543,944
Source: Airport Website.[1]

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The airport gained its current name in 1982 and, as of October 2015, is the second largest hub for American Airlines after Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, with service to 154 domestic and international destinations.[2] As of 2015, it was the 6th busiest airport in the United States, ranked by passenger traffic and by aircraft movements.[3] Charlotte is the largest airport in the United States without nonstop service to Asia. The airport also serves as a major gateway to the Caribbean.

History

The early years

The city received a $200,000 grant from the Works Progress Administration in 1930 to establish Charlotte's first municipal airport. In 1936, the Charlotte Municipal Airport opened, operated by the City of Charlotte; Eastern Air Lines began scheduled passenger service in 1937. The original passenger terminal still exists at Fenway Sports Group'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 Forces took control of the airport and established Morris Field Air Base in 1941. The airfield was used by the Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training.

Aerial view circa 1946

1950 to mid-1960s: into the jet age

In 1954, a 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m2) passenger terminal opened and the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport in honor of former Charlotte Mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The terminal had two floors, though passenger operations were confined to the ground floor. Ticketing and baggage claim were on each side of an open space that bisected the building from north to south, and a mezzanine restaurant and airline offices overlooked this open space. Delta Air Lines began 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. Nonstop flights did not reach beyond Newark, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Louisville, Birmingham, and Jacksonville.

Airport diagram for 1955

Eastern Air Lines began scheduled jet flights with the Boeing 720 in early 1962.[4] Eastern used the west pier, Piedmont and Delta the center pier, and United and Southern 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 eight dedicated gates for Eastern, each with its own departure lounge, a snack bar and separate baggage claim space. Eastern passengers continued to check in at the main terminal.

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 use the east pier, with an enclosed holding room 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 deregulation in 1978, passenger numbers at the terminal nearly doubled between 1978 and 1980, and a new 10,000-foot (3,000 m) parallel runway and control tower opened in 1979. The airport's master plan called for a new terminal across the runway from the existing site, with ground broken in 1979. At the time, the airport had only two concourses: one used exclusively by Eastern, and one used by other carriers, including United, Delta, Piedmont, and several commuter airlines.[5]

In 1979, Piedmont Airlines chose Charlotte as the hub for its expanding route network. To accommodate booming growth, a new 325,000-square-foot (30,200 m2) passenger terminal designed by Odell Associates opened in 1982, and the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport.[6] Concourses B and C were expanded in 1987 and 1984 respectively, while Concourse A was built in 1986 to handle future growth[6]

In 1987 Piedmont started non-stop 767 flights to London. In the mid-1980s the old terminal site was converted to a cargo center, and the central concourse and Eastern unit terminal were removed to make way for more cargo buildings. The original main building still stands 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 2013: the influence of US Airways

US Airways jets at CLT in 1998 in the former USAir livery
Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 on final approach to runway 18C
The central atrium of the passenger terminal building

In 1990, a new 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) international and commuter concourse (Concourse D) opened, and in 1991 further expansion of the central terminal building continued, reflective of USAir's dominating presence at the airport. A monumental bronze statue of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the namesake of the city), created by Raymond Kaskey, was placed in front of the main terminal.

In 1990, Lufthansa began Boeing 747 service to Germany; this service was, however, discontinued shortly thereafter. In 1994, British Airways began service to London via a "global alliance" with USAir. This was later discontinued, as the airlines chose different alliances (though they now are both in Oneworld). Lufthansa restarted service to Charlotte in 2003 and now operates flights between Charlotte and Munich, Germany utilizing Airbus A340-600 and Airbus A330-300 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. This expansion was designed by The Wilson Group and LS3P Associates Ltd.[7]

In 2002, the new 32-gate Concourse E opened,[8] and US Airways began non-stop service to Belize, Freeport, Providenciales, Punta Cana, and St. Croix. The airline closed its Concourse D US Airways Club location in 2002.

In 2003, the main ticketing hall was expanded to the east, providing 13 additional ticketing counters and a new security checkpoint; Concourse D was expanded by an additional nine gates. That year, US Airways began service to Costa Rica, Mexico City, and St. Kitts.

Following the 2005 acquisition of US Airways by America West Airlines in a reverse takeover,[9] Charlotte (CLT) remained the primary domestic hub for the airline. The majority of US Airways' international routes remained at the airline's second-largest hub, Philadelphia.

Dispute over control with the NC General Assembly

On July 16, 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill, introduced by state Senator Bob Rucho in February 2013, transferring possession of the airport to a 13-member regional authority. Then-Mayor of Charlotte Patsy Kinsey expressed regret for the decision, saying it would throw the airport into "chaos and instability."[10] The City of Charlotte was granted a restraining order against the state by Judge Robert Sumner, however, in order to maintain control of the airport. A court date was set for August 1, 2013 to determine the fate of the airport, with former Charlotte mayor Richard Vinroot representing the State as well as the former director of the airport, Jerry Orr.[11] Orr sent a letter to the City after the passage of the bill saying his "employment as Executive Director of the Airport Authority commenced and (his) employment by the City as Aviation Director terminated", but with the granting of the restraining order, this was interpreted as a resignation by the City and chief financial officer of the airport Brent Cagle was named Acting Director.[12]

The August 1, 2013 court date yielded a verdict that the transfer, should it occur, would need prior approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, a division of the US Department of Transportation, which was headed by former Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, who recused himself from the matter.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport remains under the control of the city after a ruling 13 Oct 2014 in Mecklenburg Superior Court.[13] Judge Robert Ervin ruled in the city's favor,[14] saying a state law passed last year to remove CLT from city control overlooked the need to first secure a federal operating certificate for the airport before a newly created airport commission took over.

Construction and expansion

Construction of the airport's fourth runway began in the spring of 2007. At 9,000 feet (2,700 m) long, the new "third parallel" allows three independent approaches for arrivals even from the south, potentially increasing capacity by 33 percent. The 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 been the Western boundary of the airport) to an alignment located farther to the west.

Construction occurred in 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.[15]

On the morning of November 20, 2008, runway 18R/36L was renumbered 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 passenger facility charge.[16] The new runway was initially certified for visual approaches only, but on February 11, 2010, was approved for instrument approaches as well. The runway construction also necessitated rerouting 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.

In 2013, the airport released plans for the largest expansion in its history. This will improve multiple concourses, adding an additional food court and multiple new parking decks. Furthermore, the airport initiated a project known as "CLT 2015". The project aims to aid the airport to cope with the pronounced increase of passengers at the airport in recent years. The plans are to expand the terminal lobby to the north, construct a fifth runway and a new international terminal. Included is a plan to build a fourth parallel runway. Officials hope to begin construction on the runway in 2020.[17]

The "Fourth Parallel" runway for Charlotte Douglas is to be designed in 2014 and construction has been planned to commence in January 2015 and scheduled for completion in the early stages of 2017, the runway is going to be built in between the existing runways 18R/36L and 18C/36C, and at 12,000 ft, the new runway will be Charlotte's longest to date.[18]

Expansion

The airport plans to extend Concourse E by 120 feet (37 m) to accommodate additional aircraft. Unlike the rest of Concourse E, this new portion will have two levels to accommodate larger CRJs and Embraer aircraft. In addition, Concourse E is planned to be disconnected to the main terminal, with access available by an underground walkway. A shuttle will be built connecting the terminals, parking garages, rental car center, and, eventually, light rail. On September 28, 2010, construction began to expand the ticket counter area, which connects ticketing to Concourse E. The expansion will eventually make room for one more security checkpoint area. The first phase of the terminal expansion officially opened on June 29, 2012.

Parking

The parking options at Charlotte Douglas have 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 four Long Term lots, with Long Term 1 and 2, the main parking lots, contributing a combined 6,500 spaces. In addition, there is the Daily North lot (formerly Remote), which is between the Daily and Long Term lots, with about 1,500 spaces. A new $40 million Business Valet Parking Deck, which utilizes Post Tension Concrete for each massive 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) level, has opened. The airport has aligned with a customer service program called SmartPark, which allows customers to call a 24-hour hotline to receive updates on parking conditions. The airport also has valet parking that provides vehicle washing, detailing, and even paintless dent removal services for an additional charge.

In November 2014, the airport opened its new terminal-adjacent hourly parking deck. This deck provides 4,000 public parking spaces on levels 4 through 7. The 3,000 spaces on levels 1 through 3 are dedicated to rental cars.[19] The opening of this new deck allows for the future redevelopment of the former rental car lots with a new concourse.

All lots except the hourly deck can only be reached from the terminal via shuttle. Business Valet picks up outside Concourse D on the Departures level. All other shuttles pick up on the Arrivals level in the B zone and D zone. The Daily decks have a shuttle that makes one stop for both decks. Long Term 1 shares with Daily North and makes stops at lettered bus stops. Long Term 2 and 3 share a shuttle and also make stops at lettered bus stops.

In July 2012, an offsite parking lot called Park n Go opened on Scott Futrell Drive.

Onsite parking costs are as follows:[20]

  • Long Term (Lots 1-4): $7/day (effective 9 Sep 2016) [21]
  • Daily North Lot: $8/day
  • Daily Decks (East and West): $10/day
  • Business Valet Decks: $14/Day
  • Hourly Deck: $20/day (first hour free; $1 per 30 mins thereafter, $20/day max)
  • Curbside Valet: $35/day (effective 9 Sep 2016) [21]

The Overlook

A US Airways Airbus A321-200 landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in June 2009.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the few airports in the United States with 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

Main article: Carolinas Aviation Museum

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of a small number of major "hub" airports in the world that has an aviation museum located on the field. The museum, established in 1992, has a collection of over 50 aircraft, including a DC-3 that is painted in Piedmont Airlines 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) U.S.-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 A320 ditched by Chesley Sullenberger as US Airways Flight 1549 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.

Concourses

Concourse A
Concourse B
  • Concourse B has 16 gates and is used for American Airlines flights. Along with Concourse C, this terminal opened in 1982.
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. Also, American Airlines operates some domestic flights from this concourse. It is also used by Lufthansa. It opened in 1990.
Concourse E
  • Concourse E has 38 gates and is entirely used for American Eagle flights, operating just over 340 flights per day (making it the largest express operation in the world). It opened in 2002. Gates E1 through E3 are available for any air carrier to use
New International Concourse (Concourse F)
  • A new concourse as a separate terminal is proposed to begin construction in 2015 where the former car rental area was. The new terminal building is expected to have 20 to 25 gates and will be served by more international carriers new to the airport. They are yet to be announced.[22]

Airline lounges

Admirals Club:[23] 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 Airways also operated a lounge in the Main Atrium, which became a USO Lounge after they canceled service to Charlotte.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsConcourse
Air Canada Express Toronto–Pearson A
American Airlines Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston–Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Portland (OR), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, St. Thomas, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle/Tacoma, Syracuse, Tampa, Washington–National, West Palm Beach, Wilmington (NC)
Seasonal: Albuquerque, Daytona Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, Sacramento, San Jose (CA) 		B, C, D
American Airlines Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Cancun, Cozumel, Curaçao, Frankfurt, Grand Cayman, Havana (begins November 30, 2016),[24] Liberia, London–Heathrow, Mexico City, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, St Lucia, St. Maarten, San José de Costa Rica, San José del Cabo
Seasonal: Barcelona, Belize City, Bermuda, Dublin, Freeport, Madrid, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Puerto Plata, Rome–Fiumicino, St. Croix, St. Kitts 		B, D
American Eagle Akron/Canton, Albany, Allentown, Asheville, Atlanta, Augusta (GA), Austin, Baton Rouge, Birmingham (AL), Blountville/Tri-Cities, Burlington (VT), Cedar Rapids/Iowa City (begins November 4, 2016),[25] Charleston (SC), Charleston (WV), Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia (SC), Columbus (OH), Dayton, Daytona Beach, Des Moines, Detroit, Evansville, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Fayetteville (NC), Florence (SC), Fort Walton Beach, Fort Wayne, Gainesville, Grand Rapids, Greensboro, Greenville (NC), Greenville/Spartanburg, Gulfport/Biloxi, Harrisburg, Hilton Head, Huntington (WV), Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville (NC), Knoxville, Lexington, Little Rock, Louisville, Lynchburg, Madison, Manchester (NH), Melbourne (FL), Memphis, Milwaukee, Mobile, Montgomery, Montréal–Trudeau, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, New Bern, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Newport News/Williamsburg, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pensacola, Peoria (begins November 4, 2016),[25] Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Roanoke, St. Louis, Salisbury (MD), San Antonio, Sarasota, Savannah, Springfield/Branson, Syracuse, Tallahassee, Toronto–Pearson, Tulsa, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National, White Plains, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Wilmington (NC)
Seasonal: Austin, Boston, Freeport, Hartford, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Key West, Portland (ME) 		B, C, E
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City A
Delta Connection Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK (begins October 1, 2016),[26] New York–LaGuardia
Seasonal: Detroit 		A
Frontier Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Orlando
Seasonal: Philadelphia, Trenton 		A
JetBlue Airways Boston, New York–JFK A
Lufthansa Munich D
Southwest Airlines Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Houston–Hobby, Nashville, Orlando (begins April 25th, 2017), [27] A
Ultimate Air Shuttle Cincinnati–Lunken FBO
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver
Seasonal: Houston–Intercontinental, Newark 		A
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles A
ViaAir Beckley, Clarksburg (begins October 1, 2016),[28] Lewisburg (WV) (begins October 1, 2016),[29] Parkersburg (begins October 1, 2016),[30] St. Augustine
Seasonal: Myrtle Beach 		A

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
ABX Air Allentown, Stockton
Air Transport International Chicago/Rockford, Ontario
FedEx Express Indianapolis, Memphis
UPS Airlines Louisville

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from CLT (May 2015 – April 2016)[31]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 902,000 American, Delta, US Airways
2 New York–LaGuardia, New York 653,000 American, Delta, US Airways
3 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 618,000 American, US Airways
4 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 593,000 American, United, US Airways
5 Boston, Massachusetts 545,000 American, JetBlue, US Airways
6 Newark, New Jersey 545,000 American, United, US Airways
7 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 507,000 American, US Airways
8 Orlando, Florida 503,000 American, Frontier, Southwest, US Airways
9 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 495,000 American, Frontier, US Airways
10 Baltimore, Maryland 441,000 American, Southwest, US Airways
Busiest International Routes to and from CLT (2015)[32]
Rank Airport Passengers Annual Change
 Carriers
1 Cancún, Mexico 371,823 Increase04.9% American, US Airways
2 Montego Bay, Jamaica 296,732 Increase00.9% American, US Airways
3 London (Heathrow), United Kingdom 285,621 Increase055.2% American, US Airways
4 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 273,734 Increase05.8% American, US Airways
5 Toronto (Pearson), Canada 200,313 Increase02.3% American, US Airways
6 Nassau, Bahamas 159,235 Decrease07.3% American, US Airways
7 Frankfurt, Germany 140,824 Decrease030.2% American, US Airways
8 Saint Martin, Sint Maarten 135,910 Increase04.8% American, US Airways
9 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 130,744 Increase00.3% American, US Airways
10 Oranjestad, Aruba 124,875 Decrease02.4% American, US Airways
11 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 116,056 Increase01.6% American, US Airways
12 Munich, Germany 111,243 Decrease026.1% Lufthansa
13 Rome (Fiumicino), Italy 92,699 Increase00.5% American, US Airways
14 Paris (Charles de Gaulle), France 83,142 Decrease01.9% American, US Airways
15 Dublin, Ireland 66,635 Increase031.1% American, US Airways

Airline market share

Largest Airlines at CLT (Apr 2015 – Mar 2016)[31]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 American Airlines 18,741,000 46.06%
2 US Airways 6,082,000 14.95%
3 Delta Air Lines 1,566,000 3.85%
4 Air Wisconsin 991,000 2.44%
5 Mesa Airlines 495,000 1.22%

Annual traffic

Traffic by calendar year
Passengers Change from previous year
2000 23,073,894 n/a0
2001 23,177,555 Increase010.45%
2002 23,597,926 Increase001.81%
2003 23,062,570 Decrease012.27%
2004 25,162,943 Increase1..9.11%
2005 28,206,052 Increase012.09%
2006 29,693,949 Increase005.28%
2007 33,165,688 Increase..11.69%
2008 34,739,020 Increase004.74%
2009 34,536,666 Decrease000.58%
2010 38,254,207 Increase010.76%
2011 39,043,708 Increase002.06%
2012 41,228,372 Increase005.60%
2013 43,456,310 Increase05.40%
2014 44,279,504 Increase01.89%
2015 44,876,627 Increase0 1.01%
Source: Charlotte Douglas International Airport[33]

Reliever airports

Ground transportation

CATS' Sprinter Enhanced Bus Service connects the airport to the uptown Charlotte Transportation Center (this route used to be 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. The trip time from the airport to downtown is approximately 20 minutes (depending on traffic conditions), with one-way fares at $2.20, the same as all local routes in the CATS system.[34] View the Sprinter Schedule for more detailed schedule and route information (click the link and choose 'Route 5-Airport').

Military facilities

Charlotte Air National Guard Base

As a joint civil-military facility, the airport is home to Charlotte Air National Guard Base (Charlotte ANGB) and its host unit, the 145th Airlift Wing (145 AW) of the North Carolina Air National Guard, located in a military cantonment area on the east side of the airport. As an Air National Guard organization within the U.S. Air Force, the federal mission of the 145 AW is theater airlift and it is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The 145 AW is composed of over 300 full-time and over 1000 traditional part-time military personnel, operating and maintaining C-130 Hercules aircraft in support of combatant commanders worldwide or as otherwise directed by higher authority. Its state mission is to respond to requirements, typically of a humanitarian or disaster-relief nature, as identified by the Governor of North Carolina.[35] The 145 AW's C-130H aircraft can also be equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), making them able to discharge large quantities of Phos-Chek, a water-based fire retardant slurry, at low altitude. In this capacity, the 145 AW is one of a select group of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command C-130 units that, under the direction of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), can deploy and provide military support to civilian authorities across the United States in combatting wild fires and forest fires.

Charlotte ANGB also maintains a USAF Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) unit, emergency vehicles, and associated crash station/fire station on the installation, providing the airport with an additional crash/fire/rescue (CFR) capability that can augment the airport's own civilian ARFF organization.

USO

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is also home to the USO of NC (United Service Organization of North Carolina) Travel Center, which functions as an airport lounge for military personnel (including veterans) and their families. Staffed by volunteers, the centers offer comfortable chairs, books, magazines, television, movies, video games, play areas for children, and refreshments. Internet and phone use is available free of charge.

Accidents and incidents

  • On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashed on final approach en route from Charleston, SC. 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. Of 82 people on board, only 13 survived the crash and fire; three of those died within a month of the accident.[36]
  • On October 25, 1986, Piedmont Airlines Flight 467 overran the runway, damaging the airplane beyond repair. Of the 119 people on board, 3 passengers sustained serious injuries, and 3 crew members and 28 passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident. There were no fatalities.[37] An NTSB report was released, it concluded that "crew coordination was deficient due to the first officer's failure to call the captain's attention to aspects of the approach that were not in accordance with Piedmont operating procedures."
  • On January 19, 1988, a Mountain Air Cargo De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 (N996SA), on a flight from Erie, Pennsylvania, descended below the glide path on approach, 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.[38]
  • On July 2, 1994, USAir Flight 1016, which originated in Columbia, South Carolina, crashed in a residential area on approach, killing 37. The crash of the DC-9 was attributed to windshear during a thunderstorm.
  • On January 8, 2003, US Airways Express Flight 5481 crashed on takeoff while en route to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, killing all 21 people aboard. The flight was operated by Air Midwest, an independent airline operating under a US Airways Express 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 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.[39]

References

  1. ^ http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/News/Pages/CLTBreaksPassengerTrafficRecordWelcomes44-9MillionTravelersin2015.aspx
  2. ^ "CLT Cities Served Report" (PDF). October 2015. Retrieved March 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ^ "RITA – BTS – Transtats". Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  4. ^ Eastern's 720s are not in the QR OAG for January 15, 1962 and are in the one for February 1.
  5. ^ "Charlotte Douglas Municipal Airport – 1979". DepartedFlights.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Charlotte Douglas International Airport Model". Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  7. ^ "Charlotte/Douglas International Airport Concourses D & E Expansion". LS3P Associates Ltd. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  8. ^ "Fast Facts". City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Government. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  9. ^ "Accounting Treatment". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. September 20, 2005. p. 82. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  10. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/16/4167850/lawmaker-rejects-city-airport.html
  11. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/18/4172346/last-minute-bid-for-airport-compromise.html
  12. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/19/4173803/orr-fired-former-council-member.html
  13. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2014/10/judge-says-cairport-permanently-citys-without-faa.html
  14. ^ http://media.bizj.us/view/img/4034591/1012cltairportdecision.airportdecision.pdf
  15. ^ "Airport Construction Projects Update". City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Government. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  16. ^ Harrison, Steve (January 7, 2010). "Airport Opens 4th Runway". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  17. ^ "Future Proposed Construction Projects". Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  18. ^ "New concourse is latest chapter in Charlotte airport's growth". Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "CLT Opens New Hourly Deck". Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  20. ^ "Parking at CLT". charmeck.org. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Charlotte airport raising valet and long-term parking rates". wsoctv.com. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  22. ^ "Future Proposed Construction Projects". Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  23. ^ "US Airways Clubs now Admiral Clubs at Charlotte Douglas". charlotteobserver. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  24. ^ "American plans late-Nov 2016 Havana launch". routesonline. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  25. ^ a b http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/07/08/american-airlines-adds-two-flights-at-clt.html
  26. ^ http://lockerroom.johnlocke.org/2016/05/02/delta-air-lines-adds-rdu-dca-and-clt-jfk/
  27. ^ https://www.google.com/flights/?f=0#search;f=CLT;t=MCO;d=2017-04-25;r=2017-04-29;tt=o;sel=CLTMCO0WN2860;q=clt+mco
  28. ^ http://wvpublic.org/post/airline-adds-west-virginia-flights-baltimore-charlotte
  29. ^ http://www.register-herald.com/news/via-air-selected-to-serve-greenbrier-valley-airport/article_9c46513d-1502-5ef7-b8a4-fb959c7686d9.html
  30. ^ https://www.regulations.gov/contentStreamer?documentId=DOT-OST-1997-2761-0122&attachmentNumber=1&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf
  31. ^ a b "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  32. ^ "U.S. International Air Passenger and Freight Statistics Report". 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  33. ^ "CLT Breaks All-Time Passenger Traffic Record". Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  34. ^ "CATS Fares and Passes". Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  35. ^ "145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina ANG". 145aw.ang.af.mil. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  36. ^ "Eastern 212 Accident Report" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. May 23, 1975.
  37. ^ "Event Details". Fss.aero. October 25, 1986. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  38. ^ "Accident description". AviationSafety.net. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  39. ^ "Runway Incursion Incident at CLT". Aviation Today. July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Charlotte_Douglas_International_Airport&oldid=742002939"