Stakeholders react to Charlotte City Council’s vote to approve new airlines lease at airport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stakeholders are reacting to a big vote to approve a new airline lease agreement at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Charlotte City Council voted eight to two during Monday’s meeting in favor of the agreement.

The 10-and-a-half-year deal locks in $2.1 billion for terminal and airfield upgrades. Business leaders say it was critical to come to a deal to keep Charlotte’s status as an American Airlines hub and maintain the airport’s annual $40 billion economic impact. But a union representing workers contracted to do jobs like pushing wheelchairs and cleaning planes wanted city council to leverage the negotiations for more protections and better pay for workers.

American Airlines sent WCCB a statement, calling the agreement in part “…a great deal for taxpayers, unlocking significant airline-funded infrastructure investments to support continued growth…”

The Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ also sent WCCB a statement calling the deal in part, “A loss for the workers having to work in unsafe conditions, sleeping in cars, and relying on public benefits to try and make ends meet.”