Roy Cooper, Pete Buttigieg Tout $27 Million Improvements to Charlotte-Douglas
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles joined the high-profile pair as they explained the benefits of the project, which includes adding a new runway to the airport by 2027.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Holiday travel season is long over, but for Charlotte-Douglas International Airport – the seventh-busiest hub in the world – there are no days off. With the Charlotte area among the fastest-growing metros in the country, a bigger load means more stress on the system – but some much-needed relief is on the way.
118,000. That’s how many passengers fly in and out of Charlotte-Douglas any given day. For reference, that’s enough to fill Bank of America Stadium to capacity and still have over 40,000 fans waiting in line.
“That’s a lot of people,” says Haley Gentry, the CEO at Charlotte-Douglas.
“And that’s a lot of pressure on our infrastructure and our facilities.”
It also brings in a lot of money.
“Our reports show that this airport has contributed $32 billion to this state’s economy in 2021,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles adds.
And, thanks to the bipartisan federal infrastructure passed by Congress in 2021, even more cash is heading Charlotte-Douglas’ way – something U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was quick to tout on his visit to the Queen City.
“I am here to congratulate this community and this airport on $27 million to modernize and improve the terminals here,” quips Buttigieg.
“And to improve the passenger experience for everybody who comes through Charlotte.”
Improvements like a 10-gate expansion in Concourse A, a parking canopy extension, baggage claim streamlining, and even a fourth runway set to open in 2027. Ideally, that means a shorter wait before you get to your gate.
“Any time you can get the flow of people moving faster, it’s going to help everybody out,” says Mike Vasquez, a Midland, NC, resident.
It also means more passengers, more jobs – and more opportunities for an already booming North Carolina economy.
“North Carolina has been ranked as the number-one state for business for two years in a row,” boasts North Carolina governor Roy Cooper.
“Charlotte-Douglas Airport is such a strong driver for us. Charlotte-Douglas Airport fills the bill.”
CLT is one of 114 airports – and four in North Carolina – receiving federal money. Avery County Airport in Spruce Pine is also raking in $2 million to build a new terminal.
“Through the President’s infrastructure bill, we’ve got more federal funding going to public transit than at any time in U.S. history,” adds Buttigieg.
It’s not just for airports. Roughly $5 billion dollars are coming into North Carolina to help improve everything from roadways, railways, high speed internet, affordable energy, and more.
