Labor Day marks the end of a record-breaking summer travel season, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is preparing for a busy holiday weekend as travelers embark on final summer getaways.
From Thursday, Aug. 29, to Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Airport expects a significant increase in local traffic, with an estimated 235,000 passengers passing through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints —representing a 15.8% rise compared to the 2023 Labor Day weekend. Overall, CLT is forecasting total passenger traffic of 1.14 million, representing a 19% increase compared to the same time last year. This rise in passenger numbers at CLT typifies a nationwide trend, with airports and airlines operating at record-breaking totals this summer. TSA is prepared to screen more than 17 million people nationwide during the holiday.
The Airport advises travelers to review CLT’s Don’t Wing It, Prepare to Fly! guide for a smoother journey.
After Labor Day, CLT will implement two significant changes as part of the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) project:
- Beginning Sept. 5, Checkpoint C will close for construction of Checkpoint 2, and TSA PreCheck will be moved to Checkpoint A. Standard screening remains at Checkpoints 1 and E.
- Upon completion of the TLE project, there will be Checkpoints 1, 2, and 3 with more total lanes than the prior configuration and enhanced equipment for more efficient screening.
- In addition, 11 of 24 new American Airlines ticket counters will open, with the remaining counters scheduled to open in October. These counters are located between Doors 2 and 3 in the center of the Terminal Lobby.
The TLE is in phase five of six and scheduled for completion in 2025. It is transforming the terminal, which was built in 1982 to accommodate 2.8 million travelers a year. In 2023, CLT passenger traffic reached a record 53.4 million. Of the 26.7 million passengers who departed CLT, 8.3 million (31%) used the terminal lobby.