CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Douglas International Airport marked a major milestone this week with the celebration of its Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE), the largest passenger-facing construction project in the airport’s history. The five-year effort is set for substantial completion on Oct. 1.

The expansion added 175,000 square feet of new lobby space and renovated another 191,000 square feet, modernizing a facility that originally opened in 1982 to handle just 2.8 million annual passengers. In 2024, CLT served a record 58.8 million travelers, with 18 million using the terminal lobby for arrivals and departures.

“The Terminal Lobby Expansion is a transformational milestone for CLT,” Airport CEO Haley Gentry said. “This monumental effort represents years of planning, construction and commitment to improving the passenger experience. The result is a modern, spacious lobby that reflects the dynamic growth of our region and positions us for the future.”

Construction began in early 2020, following a December 2019 groundbreaking. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project stayed on schedule through six phases, minimizing disruption for travelers. The TLE follows earlier projects in the Destination CLT capital investment program, including the Hourly Parking Deck and the Elevated Roadway.

The $608 million expansion brings sweeping changes for passengers, including:

• Expanded ticketing, baggage claim and basement levels.
• A 146,000-square-foot canopy to shield passengers from weather.
• Two pedestrian bridges and two underground walkways connecting the terminal with parking decks.
• New pre-security concessions.
• 11 public art installations commissioned with the Arts & Science Council.
• Four Automated Exit Lanes and 21 security lanes, including 11 automated screening lanes, up from 17 previously.
• Eight high-capacity baggage devices to speed up processing.

A central highlight is the Queen Charlotte statue, a 16-foot, 3,000-pound bronze sculpture by artist Raymond Kaskey that has been part of the airport since 1990. The restored statue now anchors Queens Court, a new open gathering area on the baggage claim level across from CLT’s first full-service pre-security restaurant, The Queen’s Kitchen.

The project was funded through a combination of passenger and customer facility charges, general airport revenue bonds and airport cash reserves. As a city enterprise fund, the airport does not rely on tax dollars for operations or capital projects.

Charlotte City Council approved the contract in October 2019. Construction was led by the joint venture Holder-Edison Foard-R.J.Leeper, with design by Gresham Smith.

With the TLE and last year’s opening of Concourse A – Phase II, the airport’s footprint has grown from 1.8 million square feet to 2.4 million, cementing Charlotte Douglas as one of the busiest airports in the country

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