A timeline of the Charlotte airport's $608M Terminal Lobby Expansion
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Charlotte Douglas International Airport recently celebrated its $608M Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) project as it nears completion.
Why it matters: It's the "most transformative project" in the airport's history, CLT CEO Haley Gentry said. Other airports that were built in the 1960s-80s that now require significant renovation are looking to what Charlotte has done, according to CLT officials.
- TLE also added much-needed space to a facility that opened in 1982 and was designed to serve significantly fewer people than CLT accommodates today.
The latest: The six-phase project is expected to be completed around Oct. 1.
- A fourth and final exit lane in the terminal lobby will open the week of Sept. 22. This is the final passenger-facing project, but there will be smaller housekeeping behind the scenes over the next few weeks.
Context: The five-and-a-half-year TLE is part of CLT's larger Destination CLT capital investment program.
Between the lines: The airport couldn't shut down its terminal lobby for more than five years to complete this project, which meant it kept the doors open 24/7 while under construction. Sometimes that meant longer wait times as security checkpoints closed for renovations, unhappy passengers as the baggage claim area transformed, or some ticket counters moving outside in the middle of summer.
- Security checkpoints have been upgraded with new technology and are now numbered 1-3 rather than A-E, and went from 17 screening lanes to 21, 11 of which are automated. You can check wait times here and head to Checkpoint 2 if you have TSA Precheck.
- There are now eight new baggage claim carousels on the ground level. These are larger and more modern machines.
- The ticketing area has also been expanded and renovated.
By the numbers: TLE added 175,000 square feet of lobby space and renovated 191,000 square feet. The airport has expanded from 1.8 million square feet to 2.4 million, which also includes Concourse A Phase II expansion.
Zoom out: In terms of passenger traffic, Charlotte's terminal lobby was originally built to handle 2.8 million passengers annually. That number reached 12.7 million by 2019, when terminal lobby expansion began. By 2024, it surged to 18 million.
The bottom line: CLT's growth (a record 58.8 million passengers flew through the airport last year) is a reflection of the city as a whole (157 people move to the Charlotte region daily).
What we're watching: Construction inside the terminal lobby may be ending, but there are plenty of other projects to keep an eye on:
- CLT's new $1 billion runway will open in September 2027.
- There are renovations going on inside the terminal
- Plus, the airport is working to transform its "front door" with Charlotte-based developer Crosland Southeast.
Here's a timeline of the airport's TLE projects.
May 2, 1982: Terminal lobby opens. It was built to serve roughly 2.8 million passengers per year.
2008-09: Airport leaders begin considering expanding the terminal lobby.
Oct. 28, 2019: Charlotte City Council approves TLE's construction contract.
- K2M Design and Gresham Smith served as the architect and engineer.
- Holder-Edison Foard and R.J. Leeper worked together as the project's contractor.
Dec. 10, 2019: CLT breaks ground on TLE. Construction officially begins after the holiday season. Phase one included behind-the-scenes utility work.
July 27, 2022: The first section of CLT's expanded terminal lobby opens to the public, including public art and an underground walkway as part of phase two. Phases two and three included adding onto the existing building.
March 2023: Ticket counters open on the west side of the terminal lobby as part of phase four. Phases four, five and six encompass renovations to the existing building.
October 13, 2023: Queen Charlotte's Kitchen opens, giving people a sit-down option for meals pre-security.
October 20, 2023: CLT unveils Queen Charlotte statue in the terminal lobby.
November 2023: Checkpoint 1 opens, and the east side of the lobby opens.
July 31, 2024: Two new skybridges open, connecting the terminal to the hourly deck and car rental area.
Nov. 13, 2024: Three lanes in front of ticketing and departures open to vehicles. Today, they're used by airport shuttles and rideshares.
February 2025: Roadway canopy is completed.
March 24, 2025: Checkpoint 2, the final checkpoint, opens.
April 3, 2025: Rideshare drop-off and pickup moves to the inner lanes of the upper-level by departures.
June 2025: Dunkin' opens near the Checkpoint 2 entrance.
Sept. 8, 2025: A grab-and-go retail store opens near baggage claim.
Sept. 17, 2025: Airport officials celebrate TLE project wrapping up.
