CREW Charlotte’s February 2024 Luncheon: “What’s Next at CLT?”
Submitted by Julie Pruett, Marlboro Development Team
A record-breaking 245 people attended CREW Charlotte’s February Luncheon! Located 6 miles from the city center, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) stands as the seventh busiest airport in the United States, boasting a remarkable achievement in 2023 by accommodating over 53 million passengers, marking it as a record-breaking year. Ted Kaplan, Chief Business and Innovation Officer at CLT, elaborated on the airport’s economic significance. With 180 nonstop destinations and 36 international destinations, CLT generates $32 billion annually in economic impact in North Carolina, constituting 5% of the State’s GDP. Owned and operated by the City of Charlotte, CLT operates under a self-sustaining federal mandate, necessitating that all expenditures at the airport be covered by aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues.
Stuart Hair, Director of Commercial and Community Engagement, outlined CLT’s response to its exponential growth through various airport renovations and expansions. The completion of the terminal lobby expansion, representing a $608 million investment, is anticipated by 2025. Concurrently, the ongoing Concourse A Expansion – Phase II, set to add 10 new gates, is slated for completion in 2024. Furthermore, the construction of a fourth parallel runway, earmarked for completion in 2027, symbolizes a monumental investment of $1 billion.
In tandem with aeronautical advancements, Jennifer Thompson, Commercial Engagement Manager, unveiled CLT’s endeavor to diversify revenue streams by releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a destination district. The RFP, aimed at generating non-aeronautical revenue, sets the deadline for proposals as February 22, 2024, with the selection of a developer scheduled for April 2024.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) exemplifies not only a vital transportation hub but also a cornerstone of economic activity in North Carolina. With its ambitious expansion plans and strategic initiatives to bolster revenue, CLT is poised to continue its trajectory of growth and serve as a catalyst for economic development in the region.
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