Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT) is the primary international airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding region. Located approximately 6 miles west of downtown Charlotte, CLT is owned and operated by the City of Charlotte’s Department of Aviation.
CLT is one of the busiest airports in the world and serves as the second-largest hub for American Airlines, the world’s largest airline. The airport began as Charlotte Municipal Airport, opening in 1936 during the Great Depression. It was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after World War II and became Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 1982 when a new terminal with 25 gates opened. That same year, Piedmont Airlines established its hub at CLT with 86 daily flights, setting the stage for decades of growth.
Today, CLT operates with an average of 1,400 arrivals and departures each day. In 2025, the airport welcomed 53.6 million passengers, its second-busiest year on record. CLT offers nonstop service to more than 188 destinations worldwide and is home to eight major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers. International travel remained strong in 2025 with 4.7 million international passengers, and the airport connects travelers to 43 international destinations. American Airlines added nonstop service to Athens, Greece in June 2025, and Etihad Airways will launch nonstop flights to Abu Dhabi, UAE, beginning March 20, 2026.
CLT is a self-sustaining enterprise, funding all capital and operating costs through airport revenues without general fund appropriations.