7 Charlotte airport projects to watch
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Charlotte Douglas International Airport is in the midst of major transformation reaching from the tarmac to the terminal.
Why it matters: The airport's growth reflects the growth of Charlotte, which is approaching 1 million residents.
Driving the news: CLT broke ground on a new firehouse Wednesday. The $40.9 million project is necessary for the airport's new runway.
What they're saying: "As CLT grows, our infrastructure must grow with it," airport CEO Haley Gentry said during Wednesday's groundbreaking.
Here are seven airport projects and features we're watching:
Firehouse 47
Context: The new firehouse will eliminate the need for firefighters to cross active runways. It's also a key part of the airport's infrastructure.
- It's expected to come online in fall 2027. The airport's new runway cannot open until the firehouse is ready.
Flashback: This will be the third firehouse at CLT. The last firehouse to open at the airport was Station 41 in 2009. Station 17 opened at the airport in the 1980s.
State of play: The new firehouse will be responsible for responding to medical calls and aircraft emergencies. Firehouse 47 will be 53,905 square feet, roughly 20,000 square feet larger than the other two at CLT.
A new runway
Context: CLT's fourth parallel runway is expected to be commissioned in September 2027, CLT chief infrastructure officer Jack Christine says. The $1 billion project broke ground in June 2023.
Between the lines: Funding for the runway also includes the new firehouse.
Go deeper: Charlotte's new runway will be able to say when it needs fixing
3 lounges loading
Three new lounges are in the works.
American Express will open its second-ever Sidecar by The Centurion lounge in Concourse A in 2027.
Go deeper: New AmEx lounge coming to Charlotte's airport in 2027
Capital One will open a lounge in Concourse A near gates 21–29 (timeline TBD).
Go deeper: Capital One Lounge coming to Charlotte Douglas International Airport
American Airlines plans to open its high-end Flagship lounge, where customers are greeted with Champagne (timeline and location TBD).
Go deeper: American Airlines plans a lavish new lounge at CLT
Airline negotiations
The latest: CLT and its signatory airlines (American, Southwest, Delta, United and Frontier) recently extended negotiations pertaining to a long-term lease agreement for up to one year. The current agreement runs through June 30, 2026.
Between the lines: Spirit was one of CLT's signatory airlines before it shut down earlier this month.
- JetBlue, which was previously a CLT signatory airline, has since announced it will have three daily flights at CLT to Fort Lauderdale.
- JetBlue is "targeting the traffic in the cities that Spirit had," Gentry says. Whether or not JetBlue becomes a signatory airline at CLT is "in their court and to be determined," Gentry says.
Go deeper: Charlotte airport extends negotiations with airlines, including American
Concourse renovations
The latest: Renovations on Concourse D are expected to be completed by the end of the year, Christine tells Axios. Concourse E renovations are expected to wrap up by March 2027.
What to expect: Upgrades will include restrooms, flooring, lighting, and seating with charging capabilities.
What they're saying: "The part that takes the longest is rebuilding restrooms," Christine tells Axios. "We can only do one at a time because we have to have restroom availability. That's what draws the schedule out."
Concourse expansion
What we're watching: CLT plans to add 10–12 gates in Concourse C by 2031, as Axios previously reported.
- Before gates can be added, they have to expand the ramp (the pavement planes use to get to the gates) to the south.
- Part of the overall plan after the Concourse C expansion is built is to add a tunnel back to the airport's Atrium to bypass some of the passenger foot-traffic on the farther ends of Concourse C.
A new front door
What we're watching: CLT plans to develop a new "front door," meaning the land outside the airport will include everything from retail to hotels.
- Charlotte-based developer Crosland Southeast was selected for the project known as CLT Destination District.
- The next public hearing for zoning on the project is scheduled for June 15.