Charlotte Douglas International becomes third busiest U.S. airport for connecting flights

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Global Industry News

Charlotte Douglas International becomes third busiest U.S. airport for connecting flights

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Jun 1, 2025

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is gaining recognition as a major hub for connecting flights in the United States. The airport, bolstered by its largest airline, American Airlines, has been reported as the third-busiest connection hub in the country. During Memorial Day Weekend, North Carolina-based news outlet WCNC noted that CLT handled over 2,000 flights.

American Airlines estimates that approximately 72,000 flights will operate from May to September during the summer travel season. "Currently, Charlotte Douglas International is the third-busiest connecting hub in the United States," with more than 75% of passengers traveling on connecting itineraries and 90% being customers of American Airlines.

Passenger numbers are expected to rise during peak travel months as CLT serves as a key hub for American Airlines' domestic and transatlantic networks. The airport offers flights to destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

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Charlotte Douglas International has made significant strides globally. It recently became the world's sixth-busiest airport by takeoffs and landings. According to The Charlotte Observer, it had over 596,000 aircraft movements last year with a passenger traffic record of 58.8 million.

In terms of international passenger traffic, CLT reached 2.4 million passengers last year and now ranks behind airports like Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Las Vegas (LAS).

To support its growth trajectory, CLT has launched infrastructure improvement projects under its $4 billion "Destination CLT" initiative. Recent developments include a relocated rideshare pickup area and increased security capacity through new screening lanes as part of a $600 million Terminal Lobby Expansion project initiated in 2019.

Future plans involve expanding baggage handling capabilities with two additional carousels and upgrades to Concourses D and E facilities. A fourth parallel runway is also underway with completion expected by fall 2027.