Airport opening renovated checkpoint in time for CMS spring break
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Photo: Courtesy of Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport will open its newly renovated security Checkpoint 2 on Monday with limited passenger screening, and officials say it will be fully up and running on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Nothing makes people testy like waiting in line, especially at the airport. The TSA anticipates being able to screen 600 more passengers per hour, according to a CLT press release, which means less time standing in line.
- Plus Checkpoint 2 will open in time for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' spring break, which is April 14-21.
State of play: You'll find Checkpoint 2 in the center of the airport's terminal lobby. Checkpoint A will permanently close later that week, and you'll use Checkpoint 2 for TSA PreCheck and flight crew screening.
- Airport employee lanes will be able to use all three of CLT's checkpoints.
- You can get to any gate from any of CLT's security checkpoints.
- Find security wait times and checkpoint hours here.
Context: Opening Checkpoint 2 will be the final step in CLT's plan to consolidate its checkpoints from A-E to 1-3.
- Checkpoints 1-3 have upgraded technology and more screening lanes.
- Checkpoint E became Checkpoint 3 and Checkpoint 1 opened in fall 2023.
- This is also part of CLT's massive Terminal Lobby Expansion project.
What they're saying: "The opening of Checkpoint 2 is a major milestone in the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) project, as streamlining security checkpoints from five to three while increasing capacity will provide passengers with a faster, more efficient screening experience," CLT chief infrastructure officer Jack Christine said in a statement.
What next: CLT will add three more automated exit lanes near ticketing, plus two new baggage carousels. The exact timeline for these additions has not been announced.
The big picture: Charlotte is one of the busiest airports in the world, with a record 58.8 million travelers using the airport in 2024.
- The airport may be a traveler's only impression of a city if they're just passing through, and that's the case at CLT. Eighteen million people used the airport's terminal lobby for arrivals and departures last year.
- That's still a significant number of people experiencing everything from security to baggage claim and ticketing to the airport's new skybridges and bus shuttle lanes.
Go deeper: Definitive guide to CLT Airport — Where to eat, how to kill time and skip lines