Page last updated: 12 August 2025
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a primary hub in the southeastern United States, offering extensive domestic and international connectivity.
How many passengers does Charlotte Douglas International Airport serve each year?
Over 58 million passengers are processed through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) each year.
- Before the pandemic, CLT Airport processed approximately 50.2 million passengers annually in 2019.
- Annual processing dropped to a pandemic low of 27 million passengers in 2020, then recovered to 43 million in 2021, 47.8 million in 2022, reaching 53.4 million in 2023.
- In 2024, CLT Airport processed 58.8 million passengers, up 10% from 2023 and approximately 17% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
How many passengers used Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2024?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport handled 58.8 million passengers in 2024.
- Domestic travelers made up approximately 96% (56.3 million), while international travelers accounted for about 4% (2.5 million).
How many passengers used Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2023?
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport served 53.4 million passengers in 2023, with approximately 96 % domestic (51.3 million) and 4 % international (2.1 million).
How large is Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport spans approximately 6,000 acres of land in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Runways: 3 parallel plus 1 crosswind runway, each 7,500 to 10,000 ft long
- Terminal complex: 1 main terminal and 5 concourses (A-E) with more than 115 gates
- Parking: over 25,000 spaces across all facilities
- Planned capacity: up to 70 to 80 million passengers annually after ongoing expansion
How many aircraft operations occur at Charlotte Douglas International Airport each year?
Over 596,000 aircraft operations (including takeoffs and landings) occur at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) each year.
- Before the pandemic, CLT Airport handled approximately 578,000 operations in 2019 across all categories.
- Airport operations fell to 398,000 operations in 2020 (down 31% due to COVID-19), then gradually recovered to 520,000 in 2021, followed by 506,000 in 2022, and 532,000 in 2023.
- The airport reached approximately 596,000 operations in 2024, up approximately 12% from the previous year and 3% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
| Charlotte Douglas International Airport Aircraft Operations | |||||
| Year | Total Operations | Air Carrier | Air Taxi/Regional | General Aviation | Military |
| 2014 | 540,000 | 390,000 | 120,000 | 25,000 | 5,000 |
| 2019 | 578,000 | 420,000 | 130,000 | 26,000 | 2,000 |
| 2020 | 398,000 | 300,000 | 90,000 | 7,500 | 500 |
| 2021 | 520,000 | 380,000 | 110,000 | 28,000 | 2,000 |
| 2022 | 506,000 | 375,000 | 105,000 | 24,000 | 2,000 |
| 2023 | 532,000 | 400,000 | 118,000 | 13,650 | 350 |
| 2024 | 596,000 | 450,000 | 120,500 | 24,000 | 1,500 |
How much revenue does Charlotte Douglas International Airport generate each year?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) generates over $330 million in revenue each year.
- The airport generated $235 million in revenue in 2019, but dropped to $155 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.
- Recovery progressed steadily from $200 million in 2021 to $280 million in 2022, reaching $320 million in 2023.
- In 2024, the airport generated $340 million in revenue, up 6% from 2023 and 45% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
CLT International Airport Revenue in 2024
- CLT generated $340 million in revenue in 2024, a 6 % rise over 2023 and 45% above 2019 levels.
CLT International Airport Revenue in 2023
- CLT generated $320 million in revenue in 2023, about 14 % more than 2022 and 36% above 2019 levels.
Which terminals are busiest at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
Concourse C was the busiest in 2024 with about 20 million passengers. Other concourse totals:
- Concourse B: 18 million passengers
- Concourse E: 12 million passengers
- Concourse D: 4.8 million passengers
- Concourse A: 4 million passengers
Which airlines carry the most passengers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
American Airlines dominates with an 88% market share at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Market Share by Airline at CLT (2024)
- American Airlines (including Eagle): 88% market share
- Delta Air Lines: 4% market share
- United Airlines: 2% market share
- Southwest Airlines: 2% market share
- Spirit Airlines: 1% market share
- Frontier Airlines: 1% market share
- Other carriers: 2% market share
What are the busiest routes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
The busiest domestic and international routes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) reflect both hub connectivity and regional travel patterns.
Top Domestic Routes by Passengers (2024)
- CLT – Orlando (MCO): 834,000 passengers
- CLT – New York LaGuardia (LGA): 582,000 passengers
- CLT – Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): 574,000 passengers
- CLT – Chicago O’Hare (ORD): 560,000 passengers
- CLT – Boston (BOS): 557,000 passengers
Top International Routes by Passengers (2024)
- CLT – London Heathrow (LHR): 250,000+ passengers
- CLT – Cancún (CUN): 200,000+ passengers
- CLT – Punta Cana (PUJ): 150,000+ passengers
- CLT – Montego Bay (MBJ): 120,000+ passengers
- CLT – Munich (MUC): 100,000+ passengers
Peak periods at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
July and June were the peak months at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in 2024.
- July was the busiest month with approximately 5.7 million passengers, followed by June with 5.5 million and May with 5.4 million.
- August attracted around 5.3 million passengers, while September drew 5 million.
How much cargo moves through Charlotte Douglas International Airport each year?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) handles approximately 206,000 short tons of freight each year.
- CLT Airport handled 184,000 short tons in 2019, dropped to 175,000 short tons in 2020 due to the pandemic, then recovered to 169,000 short tons in 2021.
- Recovery continued from 178,000 short tons in 2022 to 180,000 short tons in 2023, growing 1% as operations normalized.
- In 2024, the airport processed 206,000 short tons of cargo, up 14% from 2023 and 12% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
How reliable is Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) achieved an 80% on-time departure rate in 2024.
- Cancellations (2024): 1.4 % of scheduled flights, below the national average
- Average delay (2024): 50 minutes, mostly weather-related
- Peak delays: summer evening departures during thunderstorms
- Best performance: September and October exceed 85 % on-time
How does Charlotte Douglas International Airport rank globally?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) ranks as the 7th busiest airport in the United States and 22nd busiest globally by passenger traffic in 2024.
- Aircraft movements: 7th worldwide
- Hub size: second largest for American Airlines after DFW
What is Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s economic impact?
Charlotte Douglas International Airport drives $40 billion in annual economic activity across North and South Carolina.
- Jobs supported: 167,000 in North Carolina, 17,300 in South Carolina
- Personal income: $15.2 billion (NC) and $3.2 billion (SC)
- Tax revenue: $2.1 billion in state and local taxes, primarily in North Carolina
- GDP share: 5 % of North Carolina’s total GDP and 42 % of its aviation-related output
Other US Airport Statistics
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- O’Hare International Airport
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