Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Generated by DeepSeek V3.2Expansion Funnel Raw 55 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
| Charlotte/Douglas International Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Charlotte/Douglas International Airport |
| IATA | CLT |
| ICAO | KCLT |
| FAA | CLT |
| Owner | City of Charlotte |
| Operator | Charlotte Douglas International Airport |
| City-served | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Elevation-f | 748 |
| Elevation-m | 228 |
| Coordinates | 35, 12, 50, N... |
| Website | https://www.cltairport.com/ |
| R1-number | 5/23 |
| R1-length-m | 2,667 |
| R1-length-f | 8,750 |
| R1-surface | Asphalt |
| R2-number | 18L/36R |
| R2-length-m | 3,048 |
| R2-length-f | 10,000 |
| R2-surface | Asphalt |
| R3-number | 18C/36C |
| R3-length-m | 3,048 |
| R3-length-f | 10,000 |
| R3-surface | Asphalt |
| R4-number | 18R/36L |
| R4-length-m | 3,048 |
| R4-length-f | 10,000 |
| R4-surface | Asphalt |
| R5-number | 1/19 |
| R5-length-m | 2,286 |
| R5-length-f | 7,500 |
| R5-surface | Asphalt |
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is a major civil-military hub located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a primary operating base for American Airlines, functioning as the airline's second-largest hub after Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The facility is named for former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas Sr. and has grown from a modest municipal airfield into one of the busiest airports in the world by aircraft movements.
History
The airport's origins trace to 1935 when it opened as Charlotte Municipal Airport on land owned by the City of Charlotte. During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces used the facility for training, designating it Morris Field. Commercial service expanded significantly after the war, with Eastern Air Lines and Piedmont Airlines establishing major operations. A major terminal expansion in 1982 preceded the airport being renamed in honor of Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., and its status as a global hub was cemented when US Airways selected it for a major hub following its merger with Piedmont Airlines; this hub was later inherited and greatly expanded by American Airlines after their merger with US Airways.
Facilities
The airport covers over 6,000 acres and features a single terminal building with one main ticketing hall and five concourses (A through E). Concourses D and E are served by an elevated automated people mover connecting to the main terminal. The airfield complex includes four parallel runways and one crosswind runway, capable of handling simultaneous operations in most weather conditions. Key facilities include the Carolinas Aviation Museum, located on airport property, and a dedicated United States Air Force / Air National Guard facility hosting the 145th Airlift Wing flying the C-17 Globemaster III.
Airlines and destinations
As the primary hub for American Airlines, the airport offers extensive domestic service to destinations across the United States and international flights to Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Other major carriers maintaining a presence include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. Key international destinations served include London Heathrow Airport, Munich Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and numerous cities in Mexico and Central America.
Statistics
It consistently ranks among the top ten busiest airports in the world by aircraft movements and is a leading airport for passenger traffic in the United States. In a recent year, it served over 50 million passengers and handled more than 500,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings. It is the largest airport in North Carolina and the primary air gateway for the U.S. state's Piedmont region. The facility is a critical economic engine for the Charlotte metropolitan area.
Ground transportation
The airport is accessible via Interstate 85 and Interstate 485, with direct connections to Uptown Charlotte. Public bus service is provided by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), with Route 5 offering a direct link to the Charlotte Transportation Center. Taxi, rideshare, and rental car services are widely available, with several rental car companies operating a consolidated facility connected to the terminal via shuttle. There is no direct Amtrak or light rail connection, though future expansions of the LYNX Blue Line are planned to serve the area.
Accidents and incidents
A significant accident occurred in 1994 when USAir Flight 1016, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, crashed during a go-around in a microburst-induced wind shear while attempting to land, resulting in 37 fatalities. In 2003, US Airways Express Flight 5481, a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Air Midwest, crashed shortly after takeoff due to improper weight and balance calculations, killing all 21 people on board. These incidents led to major investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board and subsequent changes in pilot training and aircraft weight procedures.
Category:Airports in North Carolina Category:Transportation in Charlotte, North Carolina Category:1935 establishments in North Carolina