Changes at Charlotte-Douglas Airport Ahead of Busy Holiday Travel Season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The holiday travel rush starts in just a couple of days. Be prepared for big changes if you’re flying out of Charlotte.

“We’re geared up. We’re excited about the holiday as we always are,” says Jack Christine, with Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Thanksgiving week, 130,000 people are expected to pass through the airport each day.

“The airport is going to be fully staffed. We’ll have additional help here to help move passengers here through our parking lot,” Christine says.

The busiest days are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday and Monday after.

If you’re coming to pick up someone at the airport, make sure you pay close attention.

While there are five pick-up lanes now instead of three, they’re in a different place, further away from the terminal.

The old pick-up lanes are now under construction and will be used for terminal expansion.

“I like ’em. I think the cars move along a lot quicker, it’s more lanes now, so, pick up’s go a lot easier,” explains Belmont resident Jeff Cass.

Cass just flew home after a week in Europe.

“I remember waiting in line way back trying to pick people up too. It was such a pain. It seems like everything flows a lot better now,” he says.

There’s also a new place to catch an Uber or Lyft, on the outer curb on the lower level.

Passengers say they know there could be some confusion at first.

“Yeah, that’s what happens. It’s a learning curve, right? So they’ll figure it out exactly,” Cass says.