Charlotte Airport $608M Terminal Expansion

Charlotte Airport’s new $608M lobby opens to handle booming passenger numbers and smoother flows.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) completed its Charlotte Airport terminal expansion in September 2025, unveiling a $608 million lobby upgrade designed to unclog peak‑time traffic. The project adds 175,000 sq ft of new space and renovates another 191,000 sq ft, modernizing baggage claim, ticketing and pre‑security concessions.

CLT is American Airlines’ second‑largest hub and handled 58.8 million passengers in 2024; roughly 18 million travelers have already used the new lobby area since opening. Planners say the expansion targets both everyday convenience and future growth as the airport manages record volumes.

What the Charlotte Airport terminal expansion changed

The most visible additions include expanded baggage claim halls, reconfigured ticketing zones and new concession space ahead of security. The project also introduces underground walkways to reduce curbside and connector congestion between concourses, smoothing passenger transfers during busy windows.

Key figures: $608 million total cost, 175,000 sq ft added, 191,000 sq ft renovated — central to the Charlotte Airport terminal expansion.
Finished: September 2025; passenger baseline: 58.8 million in 2024; 18 million used the new lobby area.
Operator context: CLT remains a major hub for American Airlines, supporting large domestic and international networks.

Designers focused on intuitive wayfinding and quicker baggage flows so that travelers spend less time in queues and more time in retail or lounges. The new pre‑security concessions emphasize convenience and grab‑and‑go options popular with younger flyers and frequent business travelers.

Airport officials expect the expansion to relieve pinch points during holiday surges and to support future terminal projects. For passengers, the result should be fewer bottlenecks, faster connections and a more modern first — and last — impression of Charlotte Douglas.