Memorial Day weekend will once again jump-start a busy summer travel season with anticipated passenger numbers nearing pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
The busiest days will be today, Friday, May 27 and Monday, May 30 with approximately 31,000 local passengers beginning their trip at CLT. By comparison, on Memorial Day weekend 2019 the Airport’s peak day (Friday, May 24, 2019) welcomed around 33,600 local passengers.
In addition to local passenger traffic, Charlotte Douglas also will serve nearly 100,000 connecting passengers each day. To make the travel experience easier, plan ahead, arrive early and book parking online.
American Airlines’ current peak operations total up to 600 departures a day. This summer that is expected to peak at up to 655 daily departures in June and up to 659 in July.
TSA advises passengers to be inside the Airport - in line to check in or to go through security – at least two hours before departure of a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
Parking will be at a premium. Book official Airport parking online at parkCLT.com or on the CLT Airport app to guarantee the availability of your preferred parking option and for the best rates. It also provides a contactless parking experience. Same-day booking is limited for all products, with a minimum of six hours in advance. For drive-up parking, visit CLT’s real-time parking map or call 704.359.5555 to hear the latest parking conditions.
A good rule of thumb: When booking a flight, no matter when you travel, book parking at the same time.
Passengers are strongly encouraged to check on parking availability in advance and to consider other ground transportation options if parking is limited or unavailable. This includes getting dropped off at CLT, carpooling, riding the CATS’ Airport Sprinter, or using one of the many ride app services, taxis and ground transportation companies serving the Airport.
Please note: Only credit cards are accepted for Airport parking. Cashiers are not available at exit tolls. Cash is only accepted at CLT’s pay-on-foot machines located in the Hourly Deck.
Stay Safe, Travel Safe
CLT safety measures remain in place with housekeeping and Airport staff regularly conducting daily cleanings and nightly deep cleanings in the Airport’s terminal and on buses. Visit CLT’s COVID-19 Travel Update webpage for additional information.
Face Masks Available
While face masks are no longer required at the Airport, they are still available for those who choose to wear them. Passengers may pick up a face mask at the TSA checkpoint podiums, Airport Information Desk in Ticketing and the Visitor Info Center in Baggage Claim.
Check Security Wait Times
Visit CLT’s website (cltairport.com) or app (download at the App Store or on Google Play) to see estimated security wait times at each checkpoint, including Standard and TSA PreCheck® lines.
New Concessions/Amenities
Several new concessions and amenities have opened this spring at CLT - Uptown Exchange (news and gifts) and Gameway (gaming stations) on Concourse E Expansion, Dunkin’ in the Atrium and a renovated Starbucks on Concourse B near Gate B12. The Club CLT also recently began hosting passengers on Concourse A Expansion.
Free Visual Interpreting Services
New as well, CLT passengers who are blind or have low vision now have free access to the visual interpreting service Aira, which acts as an assistant to help navigate the terminal and answer questions.
With the Aira app, passengers can connect with a live Aira agent who will visually interpret their surroundings via the user’s smartphone camera. While at CLT, travelers will have free, unlimited access to the service.
Pack Your Patience
As a reminder, please pack your patience and be courteous. Airport employees are working hard to make everyone’s travel experience simple, safe and enjoyable.
Stay connected with the Airport, follow @CLTairport on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. Get the latest Airport news at cltairport.mediaroom.com or sign-up to receive CLT's electronic newsletters at cltairport.mediaroom.com/newsletters. Also remember to download the free, all-in-one CLT Airport app at the App Store or on Google Play.