Charlotte Douglas International Airport

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Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame Charlotte Douglas International Airport Template:Airport codes is a major airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954, the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The airport gained its current name in 1982, and is currently a major hub for US Airways.

The Metropolitan Combined Statistical Area of Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury, NC-SC has a July 1, 2004 population of 2,067,810 Source: US Bureau of the Census Released April 2005

Contents

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History

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Early years

In 1936, the Charlotte Municipal Airport opened and was operated by the City of Charlotte. Eastern Airlines began its first regularly scheduled passenger service in 1937. The United States Army Air Forces took control of the airport and established Morris Field Air Base in 1941.

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Growth

United Airlines began regularly scheduled passenger service in 1950. A new 70,000 square-foot passenger terminal opened in 1954. The airport becomes Douglas Municipal Airport in honor of former Charlotte Mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The terminal itself had two floors, although passenger operations were confined to the ground floor. Ticketing and baggage claim were located on each side of an open space which bisected the building from north to south. The mezzanine restaurant and various airline offices looked out on this open space. Delta Air Lines began regularly scheduled passenger service in 1956. Eastern Airlines began the region's first regularly scheduled jet service in 1962. Eastern used the west pier, Piedmont and Delta the center pier, and United and Southern the east pier.

A major renovation project in the late 1960s expanded the facility considerably. Eastern opened a 'unit terminal' in 1967, replacing the old west pier. This new facility had 8 dedicated gates for Eastern, each with its own departure lounge, as well as a snack bar and separate baggage claim space. Eastern passengers continued to check in at the main terminal.

Two years later in 1969, a new enclosed concourse was built parallel to the center pier. When it was completed, Piedmont, Eastern and Delta moved in and the old center pier was demolished. The new concourse also had separate departure lounges, as well as restrooms and an enlarged baggage claim area. United's flights continued to the use the east pier, although an enclosed holdroom was added for waiting passengers.

In 1973, Eastern added two more gates to the end of its west concourse.

After airline deregulation in 1978, passenger numbers at the terminal nearly doubled between 1978 and 1980. A new 10,000-foot parallel runway and control tower were opened in 1979 to handle the increased passenger loads. The airport's master plan also called for construction of a new terminal across the runway from the existing site. Ground was broken in 1979.

A major development occurred in 1979, when Piedmont Airlines picked Charlotte as a hub for its rapidly expanding airline. To accommodate the booming growth of the facility, a new 325,000-square-foot passenger terminal opened in 1982, and the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The old terminal site was converted a cargo center in the mid-1980s. The central concourse and Eastern 'unit terminal' were removed to make way for larger, more modern cargo buildings. The original main building still stands, however, and are used for office space. The old control tower was removed in the late 1990's.

In 1987, Piedmont Airlines began direct international service to London. Two years later, USAir completed a merger with Piedmont Airlines, forming what is today called US Airways.

In 1990, a new 80,000 square-foot international and commuter concourse opened. Lufthansa German Airlines began Boeing 747 service to Germany under an "open skies" agreement. This service was ended in 1992.

A passenger terminal expansion began in 1991.

In 1994, British Airways began service to London via a "global alliance" with USAir (now US Airways). This has since been discontinued, as the airlines have chosen opposite alliances.

When USAir became US Airways, Charlotte remained its largest hub. Following its merger with America West Airlines, US Airways remains committed to housing its major eastern hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

In 1999, plans were announced for the construction of a regional carrier concourse, Concourse E and expansion of Concourses A and D.

Air Canada begin service in 1999 and US Airways began daily non-stop service to Paris and Frankfurt.

In 2002, Charlotte Douglas' new 26-gate regional concourse opened for business. US Airways also began non-stop international service to Providenciales, Belize, Punta Cana, St. Croix, Freeport and Grand Bahamas.

In 2003, the Ticket Lobby was expanded on the east end and provided 13 additional ticketing counters and a new security checkpoint. Concourse D, the airport's international concourse, completed a 9 gate expansion. US Airways also began non-stop international service to Mexico City, San Jose, Costa Rica, and St. Kitts.

On January 8, 2003, US Airways Flight 5481 crashed at the airport, killing all 21 people aboard. The flight was operated by an independent US Airways Express airline. Image:NO05 CharoletteAirport2.jpg In 2004, construction begin on a 3,000-space customer parking deck located in the current Daily Parking lot and increased customer-parking capacity by 13%. Lufthansa German Airlines resumed daily non-stop Airbus A340 service in 2003 between Charlotte and its hub in Munich, Germany.

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Airport facts

  • 16th busiest in nationwide operations
  • 19th busiest in nationwide passengers
  • 35th busiest in nationwide cargo
    • Source: Airports Council International, June 2005
  • Total Passengers: 25,543,374
  • Non-Stop Service: 124 cities
  • Terminal 1.7 million square feet
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Concourses

Concourse A 12 gates

Concourse B 16 gates

Concourse C 18 gates

Concourse D 13 gates

Concourse E 26 gates

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Concourse A

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Concourse B

  • US Airways (Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Baltimore/Washington, Birmingham (AL), Boston, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Columbus, Cozumel, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Harrisburg, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manchester (NH), Miami, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Norfolk, Orlando, Pensacola, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Sarasota/Bradenton, Seattle/Tacoma, Syracuse, Tampa, Toronto, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach)
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Concourse C

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International Concourse D

  • Lufthansa (Munich)
  • US Airways (Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Cancun, Cozumel, Frankfurt, Freeport, London-Gatwick, Mexico City, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, San Jose (CR), St. Maarten, St. Thomas)
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Concourse E

  • US Airways
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Midwest (Athens (GA), Lewisburg)
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Albany, Atlanta, Bentonville, Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Charleston (WV), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Detroit, Fayetteville (AR), Greenville (SC), Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New Bern, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Savannah, Syracuse, Toronto)
    • US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Columbus, Fayetteville (NC), Greenville (SC), Indianapolis, Louisville)
    • US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Charleston (SC), Columbia, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fayetteville (AR), Fayetteville (NC), Greensboro, Houston-Intercontinental, Kansas City, Lexington, Little Rock, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mobile, Montgomery, Nashville, Newark, Newport News, Norfolk, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Sarasota/Bradenton, Savannah, Wilmington)
    • US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Asheville, Augusta (GA), Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Chattanooga, Charleston (WV), Charlottesville, Columbia, Fayetteville (NC), Florence (SC), Greenville (SC), Hilton Head, Huntington, Jacksonville (NC), Knoxville, Lynchburg, New Bern, Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, Salisbury)
    • US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Akron, Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Atlanta, Bentonville, Birmingham (AL), Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Charleston (WV), Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Fayetteville (NC), Gainesville (FL), Greensboro, Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (NC), Kansas City, Knoxville, Little Rock, Lexington, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Montgomery, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Newark, Norfolk, Pensacola, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Sarasota/Bradenton, Syracuse, Tallahassee, Washington-Dulles, Wilmington)
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See also

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Piedmont Triad International Airport

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External links

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