Charlotte Douglas International Airport debuted the second expansion of Concourse A on Sept. 17, further expanding CLT’s capacity to add more flights and new destinations. The 200,000-square-foot addition is home to: seven Delta Air Lines gates, two Frontier Airlines gates and one common use gate. CLT’s terminal now touts 124 gates and 2.2 million square feet.
“The opening of Concourse A Expansion Phase II marks a significant milestone for CLT and the Destination CLT program,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. “This addition not only represents growth, but a dedication to enhancing the overall travel experience. The 10 new gates, unique dining options, artistic touches and cutting-edge innovation reflect a significant investment in our infrastructure and serves as a testament to our vision for building an airport for the future.”
The construction project is part of Destination CLT, the Airport’s $4 billion capital investment program that includes the Terminal Lobby Expansion, Fourth Parallel Runway, Concourse A Expansion Phase I and concourse renovations.
The $241 million expansion serves mainly local passenger traffic, who are travelers beginning their trip at CLT. It’s a customer demographic that has been growing at CLT. Last year, the Airport welcomed 7.8 million local passengers, up 16% from 6.8 million in 2022.
The rise in local passengers has led to construction of the Terminal Lobby Expansion, which is scheduled for completion next fall. The Airport also is preparing for a third expansion of Concourse A in approximately four years that will add six to eight gates.
Expansion Amenities
The Airport’s expansions and renovations symbolize a new day for the 42-year-old terminal that is reinventing itself. The latest Concourse A expansion mimics many of Concourse A Phase I attributes. Providing an open, airy feel, the addition features:
- Four concessions (Dunkin’, Crown Diner, Great Wagon Road Distilling Company and Market Place). Learn more about these concessions here.
- Auto-tinting window glass to regulate temperature and sunlight
- Gate seating and tables with integrated and wireless charging capabilities
- Restrooms equipped with water-saving fixtures
- A private Mother’s Room located inside the women’s restroom for nursing moms
- A 15,000-square foot Delta Sky Club opening by year’s end
But CLT did not to stop there. Portland artist Val Britton’s 950-square-foot art piece “Where Earth Meets Sky” hangs above the mezzanine. Red clay from the area was used in the paint for an additional touch of local flair. Read more details about the artwork and artist.
Experiential Elements
Experiential elements integrated within the new expansion make it a one-of-a-kind experience only found at CLT.
“This is part of a very focused effort to incorporate elements of aviation into the design, much like we do with public art, and add another layer of experience for our customers,” said CLT Chief Infrastructure Officer Jack Christine.
The Wright Brothers’ history-making “First in Flight” comes to life through sight and sound. The walkway connecting Phase I on Concourse A to Phase II contains a light wall that covers the distance of the Wright brothers’ fourth powered flight of 852 feet. As travelers proceed down the walkway, light subtly follows their movement. Listen closely and passengers will hear the Wright Flyer engine overhead.
Glance slightly down at the terrazzo walkway to find bronze plaques created by artist Greg Stump of Cornelius and floor markings symbolizing the distances of the Wrights’ first four powered flights on that historic Dec. 17, 1903, day near Kitty Hawk, N.C.
One of the most unique stand outs within the new space is a life-sized, 14x40-foot MD-82 aircraft T-Tail installed at the beginning of the concourse pier that greets passengers when they enter the expansion. An outline of an MD-82 is embedded in the terrazzo flooring to show the true size and scale of the aircraft. Weighing 5,000 pounds, the piece was salvaged from Roswell, N.M, reimagined by MotoArt Studio near Los Angeles, and assembled in CLT as a unique centerpiece.
“We are now looking at ways to incorporate more aviation elements in future projects so we can build on what we have,” Christine said. “It’s important to say, we are not competing with public art, it’s additional experiential opportunities.”
Check out more information about the experiential elements in Concourse A Expansion Phase II and Destination CLT projects.