Charlotte Douglas International Airport Breaks Ground on New Runway

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has begun work on a new, $1 billion runway that will boost capacity by a quarter, and American Airlines, the North Carolina airport’s dominant carrier, will continue growing its operations.

The new runway, which is expected to be completed by 2025, will be the airport’s fifth and longest runway, at 12,000 feet. The runway will allow the airport to accommodate larger and heavier aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 and 787, and to increase its hourly takeoff and landing capacity from 112 to 140.

The new runway is part of the airport’s $2.5 billion Destination CLT project, which aims to expand and modernize the airport’s facilities and infrastructure. The project also includes the construction of a new terminal lobby, a new air traffic control tower, a new concourse A expansion, and a new roadway network.

CLT is one of the busiest airports in the US and the world, serving more than 50 million passengers and 600,000 aircraft movements in 2019. The airport is also the second-largest hub for American Airlines, which operates more than 700 daily flights to over 170 destinations from CLT.

American Airlines said that it supports the airport’s expansion plans and that it will continue to grow its operations at CLT. The airline said that CLT is a strategic hub for its domestic and international network, and that it offers convenient connections and competitive fares for its customers.

“We are excited to see the progress of the new runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which will enhance the airport’s capacity and efficiency. We are proud to partner with the airport and the city of Charlotte to support the region’s economic growth and development. We look forward to offering more flights and destinations to our customers from our second-largest hub,” said Vasu Raja, chief revenue officer of American Airlines.