Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is celebrating progress on its Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) as part of the Destination CLT programme. The project, described as the airport’s largest passenger-focused construction effort, is scheduled for substantial completion on 1 October.
The expansion has increased the lobby area by 175,000 square feet, alongside the renovation of a further 191,000 square feet. The terminal, which first opened on 2 May 1982 to accommodate around 2.8 million passengers per year, now supports a significantly larger operation. In 2024, CLT handled 58.8 million travellers, with around 18 million (31%) passing through the terminal lobby.
Haley Gentry, CEO of Charlotte Douglas International Airport said:The Terminal Lobby Expansion is a transformational milestone for CLT. This monumental effort represents years of planning, construction and commitment to improving the passenger experience. We sincerely thank our passengers for their patience and support throughout this process. The result is a modern, spacious lobby that reflects the dynamic growth of our region and positions us for the future.
The expansion forms the final part of a sequence of projects that also included the Hourly Parking Deck and the Elevated Roadway. Groundbreaking for the lobby took place in December 2019, with work beginning in early 2020 and delivered in six phases to reduce disruption. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme remained on schedule.
Key features of the completed facility include:
- Renovated basement, baggage claim and ticketing areas
- A 146,000-square-foot canopy to protect passengers from the weather
- Two pedestrian bridges linking the mezzanine to the Hourly Deck, plus underground walkways separating foot traffic from terminal roadways
- Pre-security concessions with food and beverage options
- Eleven public art installations commissioned with the Arts & Science Council
- Four automated exit lanes for departing the secure area
- Eight new baggage devices to support efficiency
- Consolidated security screening with three TSA checkpoints, 21 lanes and 11 automated screening lanes
The airport has also reinstated one of its most recognisable landmarks. The Queen Charlotte statue, created by sculptor Raymond Kaskey in 1990, now stands in Queens Court on the baggage claim level. The bronze figure, weighing around 3,000 pounds and set on a 46-foot plinth, was relocated and restored during the construction process before being unveiled again in October 2023.
The Terminal Lobby Expansion has cost an estimated 608 million USD. It was funded through Passenger Facility Charge revenues, Customer Facility Charge revenues, general airport revenue bonds and airport-generated income. CLT operates as a city enterprise fund, which means it is financially self-sustaining and does not rely on local taxes.
Construction was undertaken by the joint venture Holder-Edison Foard-R.J. Leeper, with design led by architecture firm Gresham Smith. Charlotte City Council approved the contract in October 2019.
Alongside the opening of Concourse A – Phase II in September 2024, the work has increased the airport’s overall size from 1.8 million to 2.4 million square feet.
