American Airlines is planning to open its largest Admirals Club ever at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a more than 40,000-square-foot lounge set to land in the airport's atrium on the mezzanine level by early 2028. The new club will become the largest lounge at CLT, American's second-largest hub, and will include spa-style shower suites along with food and drink service for travelers passing through.
The plans were first detailed by Axios, which reported that construction on the new lounge is expected to begin this year and wrap up in 2028. The design will reflect Charlotte's tree canopy, its textile history, and what the airline describes as Southern hospitality, according to the outlet's reporting.
How Charlotte Stacks Up Nationally
Once it opens, the Charlotte club will rank as the second-largest airport lounge in the country, trailing only Alaska Airlines' 41,000-square-foot club slated for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in late 2027, according to Forbes. The CLT lounge will also surpass American's previous record-holder, a 37,000-square-foot Admirals Club announced for Dallas Fort Worth in July 2026, as well as Delta Air Lines' 39,000-square-foot Delta One Lounge at JFK and United Airlines' 35,000-square-foot club in Denver, Forbes reported.
The scale of the investment tracks with just how much traffic flows through Charlotte. The airport served 53.6 million total passengers in 2025, with roughly 65% of them connecting through CLT rather than starting or ending their trip there, according to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. American dominates that traffic, too: Forbes says the carrier carries about 90% of airport traffic.
Part of a Larger Terminal Overhaul
The lounge project fits into CLT's broader $4 billion Destination CLT capital program, which finished a $608 million Terminal Lobby Expansion in late 2025 and is building a $1 billion fourth parallel runway due for completion in fall 2027, per Business North Carolina. The lounge is planned for the airport's central atrium. The airport also logged 574,193 aircraft operations in 2025, ranking seventh globally for flight movements. PSA Airlines, an American regional partner, was relocating its headquarters to Charlotte in January 2026, according to WCNC.
Current Lounge Footprint and What Changes
American currently operates Admirals Club locations in Concourse B and in Concourse C/D, plus a Provisions by Admirals Club grab-and-go spot in Concourse A, per Axios's reporting. The airline plans to keep both the Concourse A Provisions and the Concourse B Admirals Club running once the new mezzanine lounge opens, bringing American's total lounge offerings at CLT to four. The airline has not determined when the Concourse C/D Admirals Club will eventually close, according to the same report.
A Crowded Field of New Competitors
American isn't the only company racing to plant a flag inside CLT. Rival Delta Air Lines has explored opening a lounge in Charlotte. Credit card issuers have piled in too: Capital One announced a 14,000-square-foot lounge near Concourse A gates 21 through 29 in January 2026, though its opening timeline has not been announced, and American Express won Charlotte City Council approval in March 2026 for a 4,641-square-foot Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge slated for 2027, according to Upgraded Points. Hoodline previously covered the proposed lease and upcoming council vote on Amex's plan.
American has plans for a Flagship Lounge at CLT, according to WCNC's reporting.
