Charlotte Douglas International Airport to get fourth runway
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pledged £237 million ($290 million) to support the expansion of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
The funding, allocated under the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), will be directed towards the construction of a new fourth runway, aimed at boosting capacity and reducing flight delays.
Construction for the ambitious project began in June 2023, with the airport projecting a completion date by autumn 2027.
The new runway is expected to significantly enhance CLT’s ability to handle increased flight volumes, supporting the airport’s role as a hub for domestic and international travel.
In addition to the new runway, the grant will finance other vital airfield upgrades. These include the completion of north and south end-around taxiways, designed to streamline aircraft movement and reduce ground congestion, as well as other improvements that will bolster both safety and operational efficiency.
According to a benefit-cost analysis conducted by the city, the additional runway is set to dramatically reduce delays. Without this expansion, aircraft delays at CLT are projected to rise by 58%, equating to an additional 12 minutes per flight on average over the next 15 years. Given Charlotte Douglas’ status as the US airport with the highest proportion of connecting passengers, these improvements are expected to have positive ripple effects across the national air travel system.
Perhaps most crucially, the project is designed to enhance safety. The new runway and taxiway improvements will address a known “hot spot” on the airfield, where risks of collision or runway incursions have been identified. By standardising the airfield layout, the upgrades will reduce these risks, ensuring safer operations for the millions of passengers who pass through CLT each year.
The FAA’s funding commitment is structured through a Letter of Intent (LOI), a mechanism that allows the agency to allocate AIP grants for large-scale projects over multiple years. This long-term funding model is expected to facilitate the timely and efficient development of Charlotte Douglas, securing its position as one of the nation’s key aviation hubs.
“The FAA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to ensuring the safest and most stress-free experience for travellers possible,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta R. Griffin.
“This fourth runway delivers on both – not only for travellers in and out of Charlotte, but for those flying from the nearly 200 cities with routes to CLT.”
