The skies above Charlotte Douglas International have been particularly busy, with the hub now ranked as the sixth busiest airport in the world, an escalation from last year's seventh place according to the preliminary rankings from Airports Council International (ACI) for 2024, as reported by QC News. In terms of passenger traffic, Charlotte Douglas clinched the 23rd spot globally, an impressive feat considering the fierce competition and growth in the aviation sector.
This surge in rank is complemented by a notable 10% increase in travelers from the previous year with a total count hitting 58.8 million in 2024, according to details provided by WCCB Charlotte. International travel also saw a substantial growth with a 13% jump from 2023, strengthened by the airport's service to 42 international destinations hosting three foreign flag carriers, for travelers from across the globe a gateway to the world from Charlotte's thriving hub.
In 2025, the airport's growth trajectory is expected to soar even higher with CLT continuing major advancements in their Destination CLT terminal projects; the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE), in particular, is nearing completion later this year and is anticipated to greatly improve the traveler experience with its additional 175,000 square feet and renovation of pre-existing 191,000 square feet as mentioned by WCCB Charlotte.
"Record-breaking traffic in 2024 made it an ‘all in’ year, and our team rose to the challenge," WBTV quoted Gentry.
