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Jan. 12, 2022 - For more than a year Haley Gentry has been in the cockpit, so to speak, at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, steering the Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, through some of the most turbulent months in recent memory.

Gentry began her career as an intern at CLT 30 years ago. She worked her way through the ranks and in October 2021 was named to her new leadership role. Gentry has a breadth of knowledge and experience that is unique, in part because of her tenure in the industry. But of particular note, she is the first woman to lead CLT as its chief executive officer and aviation director in the Airport’s 87-year history.

The Charlotte Observer recently picked Gentry and one of five Charlotte leaders to watch in 2022. Gentry and the others are at the center of key happenings and leadership in the Charlotte region headed into the new year, the Queen City newspaper said.

Here’s a look at an expanded version of a question-and-answer interview Gentry participated in.

What are the main challenges or opportunities for the Charlotte airport in 2022?

COVID will continue to be a challenge for the foreseeable future. We must find a way to live with the virus and associated challenges for travel.

The past two years have changed our workplaces and how we conduct business. Our employees are our most valuable resource and are essential to providing the services that make the airport functional. The lack of human resources has significantly impacted all employers at the Airport. Maintaining the staff, we have and identifying future employees is a top priority. We must continue to develop creative strategies to address this challenge. The other significant opportunity is to continue diversifying our revenue portfolio by increasing non-aeronautical revenue. The past year certainly taught us the importance of this. We must continue to safeguard the Airport by ensuring we are financially self-sustaining regardless of passenger volume.

The Charlotte airport has been one of the busiest in the county this year as air travel rebounds from deep drops in passenger travel at the height of the pandemic. What strategies have helped CLT recover from the pandemic challenges? Is CLT uniquely situated to continue a strong recovery?

Very early in the pandemic, American Airlines made it known that Dallas and Charlotte would be their two hubs of focus. The strength of the hub has pulled CLT through the last two years and propelled us to being the 6th busiest airport in the country. Other airports throughout the country have not been so fortunate. CLT has a long history of fiscal conservatism and that served us well during this worldwide crisis. We take pride in being a good business partner, in the good times and bad. This crisis of the past year brought the aviation industry together in unprecedented ways, further solidifying our strong partnerships.

Why is a strong airport important for the city? How does the airport's COVID-19 recovery affect Charlotte?

The Airport is this region’s top economic tool. It is the gateway to the world for our community and generates $24.6 Billion in local economic impact. In January 2019, (pre-pandemic) the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported the Airport’s contribution to 132,000 jobs for North Carolina residents. A healthy, thriving airport is an indicator of a strong and prosperous community. The recovery of CLT is a positive economic indicator of our region.

What should Charlotteans expect to see with Airport construction in 2022? How have those plans changed during COVID, if at all?

Passengers will continue to see and experience the impacts of our Terminal Lobby Expansion. This became a focus project for us at the onset of the pandemic. Initially, we were able to gain some strides with fewer passengers in the building. This upgrade to our front doorstep is a $608 million investment and will provide an additional 366,000 square feet of new and renovated space to our lobby space, making a dramatic improvement to the passenger experience and overall functionality of the terminal. We also anticipate the initiation of a project which adds 10 gates to Concourse A. This new structure will be a sister concourse matching the 10-gate expansion previously added in 2018. This is critical to providing additional gate capacity for the hub and non-hub airlines.

2022 will mark the beginning of your first full year as Charlotte's permanent aviation director — can you share how you're feeling about the next year in the job? And can you share any reflections on your transition to the job over the past year?

It has been a unique time in history to be in a leadership role. There is no playbook for how to operate a business during a pandemic. COVID has impacted our professional and personal lives in so many unanticipated ways. We have had to rely on the tried-and-true basics of keeping it simple while sprinkling in some innovation. We have learned it is essential to remain nimble and be able to pivot when the environment changes and I think this is something the Airport team has done very well. We often say to new employees, you will never be bored at the Airport. I suspect the upcoming year will live up to that mantra.

Read more about Haley Gentry on the Airport website.

Oct. 19, 2021 -While a lot of people around the world have been working from home throughout much of the pandemic, thousands of men and women at Charlotte Douglas International Airport never left the workplace.

These employees were called ‘‘essential’’ in COVID-19’s early days. As the pandemic dragged on, the definition of what and who was essential changed.

More than 20,000 people working at the Airport – including nearly 700 who are employed by the Airport operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department – are all essential in some way. Each has a role in keeping the Airport running efficiently. But there is no doubt that those who came to work at the Airport every day, deserve special recognition.

We want to salute the men and women who have helped keep CLT operating since March 2020 when COVID-19 first rocked our world:

Pilots, flight attendants, ticket agents, customer service reps. Ramp workers, aircraft and avionics maintenance technicians, engine mechanics, wing walkers, airfield operations specialists, airline caterers, air traffic controllers, airline cargo handlers.

Police, firefighters, first responders, paramedics, TSA agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, Airport security, sky marshals.

Taxi drivers, ride-share operators, shuttle bus drivers, valet attendants, wheelchair attendants, vehicle maintenance mechanics, HVAC specialists, the IT geeks who keep computers and technology running.

Servers, chefs, cooks, retail cashiers, salespeople, waiters and waitresses, housekeepers.

Every day. On site. Doing everything in their power to stay safe amid a raging pandemic and help keep planes in the air and passengers on their travels.

There have been complaints about lost tempers, customer service that could have been more pleasant, and yes, closed restaurants and stores due to either a decrease in passenger traffic or the labor shortages that resulted from layoffs early in the pandemic. And we have all seen the stories of upset and unruly passengers lashing out at the very people there to keep them safe and on their travels. Unruly behavior is not tolerated, and the FAA and TSA could level fines on people who do not follow COVID rules and protocols or who disrupt air travel.

It’s is challenging for all of us to adapt in an unprecedented pandemic and all the changes it has brought to our lives. But each one of these essential, onsite workers do their best. They come to work with the goal of keeping the Airport open and serving our customers.

They do their best with the most unusual of circumstances. They continue to do so as CLT’s business partners begin to bounce back from dwindling passenger traffic that caused layoffs 18 months ago and hiring challenges in 2021 as your confidence to fly returned and you flocked to the Airport to travel.

We owe these folks a debt of gratitude. These essential workers at CLT, and airports around the nation, have been and are still today critical to keeping the nation’s air transportation network operating. They are critical to your travel experience.

Salute. High five. Kudos. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Jul. 1, 2021 - COVID-19 has changed a lot about our daily lives. As we start to venture out again and as we start to travel more, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the manners we were taught as children and the common courtesies that are critical to interacting with other people.

The news of fights aboard aircraft and in airports, assaults on airline crews, general disorder during travel, attacks on Airport workers and arguments about masks amid a pandemic is disheartening. We are better than that.

As vaccines have rolled out, people are more comfortable traveling. But we must remember that airports and airplanes are inherently crowded places. For safety, we are required to wear masks inside the Airport and onboard aircraft. It is still the official federal guidance from medical experts.

We said it before. It’s the right thing to do.

If someone needed help with walking or standing, many of us would be right there to offer assistance. If someone sitting near us was having a heart attack, difficulty breathing or was choking, we’d be there to quickly help. Because we care about our fellow human beings and as kids we were taught to be helpful and caring.

Because we care, we need to remember to be kind. Kindness goes a long way. The pandemic has affected us all in different ways. Likewise, each of us has responded and adjusted our lives in different ways. Yes, the rules we have been asked to abide by over the last 15 months have been inconvenient, a challenge, and even politically divisive.

But as you go back out in the world and as you make your travel plans, remember the basic manners we all learned as children:

• Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ Simple courtesy goes a long way in making people feel valued and happy to help. Disrespect or rude treatment of people in any role is wrong.
• Don’t interrupt. Let people finish talking, even if you think they are wrong. Let’s use our “inside voice.” It’s common courtesy and respectful to keep conversations calm.
• Temper negative opinions when it comes to wearing a mask and keeping your distance. None of us likes it, but we should respect our fellow human beings enough to accept their choice.
• Be patient. Change is hard. The pandemic is forcing us to change in ways we never thought possible.

Good manners are important. It seems like in the many months of quarantining we have forgotten those manners or decided we no longer need to be polite or respectful to people. Somehow it has become ok to be rude, belligerent and mean. Next time you want to lash out, ask yourself how your grandma or pawpaw would feel if he or she were on the receiving end of that. Then maybe rethink it and opt for kindness and being polite instead.

We are all in this together. Be kind.

Jun. 30, 2021 - You’ve heard it on the news – travel has really picked up since the early days of the pandemic. That has many CLT businesses between a rock and a hard place as they address staffing shortages while trying to hire for many open positions with the TSA, concessions, airlines, and other Airport businesses.

At the same time, business travel has decreased, leisure travel has skyrocketed. For many people, this is the first time they have traveled. For others, it is the first time in a long time that they have traveled. Much is the same when it comes to travel preparedness and the Airport journey, but much has changed in the last year.

So, as you get ready to shake off quarantine and board a plane to that dream destination or to see family and friends, there are some things you can do to prepare and to make your Airport experience easy and effortless.

First: PLAN AHEAD.

We cannot say this enough. This is essential BEFORE you come to the Airport.

• We know you know this so let’s get it out of the way first. Don’t forget to check on the COVID-19 protocols all passengers and Airport visitors are expected to follow. This includes wearing a mask per federal mandate while in the Airport. Airlines require them too. If you forget yours, ask for one at the TSA checkpoint podiums or at the Visitor Info Center in Baggage Claim. More information about CLT’s response to COVID is on our website.
• Check your flight status on your airline’s app. Then, download your boarding pass on your mobile device, or if you are still using paper, print it out at home.
• Check the security wait times on cltairport.com or on the CLT Airport app. It’s free to download in the Apple Store or Google Play. Remember you can use any security checkpoint in the terminal. You don’t have to go through Checkpoint E because you are flying out of Concourse E. It might be a little farther to walk, but if the line is shorter at Checkpoint B, why not get in line there? It’s faster, and you will be closer to the Chick-fil-A right outside Checkpoint B. You can grab a meal and a drink then head for seating in the Atrium or at your gate. Real-time wait times change frequently so check the app and website often before and after you get here.
• It helps the checkpoint lines move faster if you check your baggage with your airline, rather than carry it onto the plane. Speaking of baggage, if you are going to carry on, make sure there is nothing in your luggage that would cause alarms to go off in security. When that happens, it slows down the screening process for everyone while your bags are inspected for prohibited items. Weapons, including guns that you may have a concealed weapon permit for, are prohibited in the Airport and onboard your aircraft. “I forgot it was in there” doesn’t absolve you of possible fines and other penalties, including jail time. TSA has a handy app to check what else is and is not allowed on a flight.
• Book your parking online. You are guaranteed a parking spot and can save money over drive-up rates. Look for the online booking at cltairport.com/parking. Rates are increasing July 6 for drive-up customers so that’s even more reason to book ahead of time.
• If you are arriving in Charlotte and need a rental car, book ahead. Some companies are experiencing ground transportation shortages right now too.

Second: ARRIVE EARLY

This means arrive early AT THE TERMINAL. Not the parking lot or shuttle bus stop. Inside the terminal checking in and getting in line for security.

Given how busy it is and the accommodations being made to adjust for staffing shortages, the airlines and TSA strongly recommend you arrive three hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. Keep in mind:

• Even if the security wait time app says wait times are short at the checkpoints, don’t chance it. Leave home early. A lot can happen in the time it takes you to drive to the Airport, park and check in.
• Weekend travel, beginning on Thursdays going through Sunday, is always the busiest time. If there is a holiday, count on it being even busier.

Third: Shop, dine and relax

Once you are through security, there’s plenty to do to keep busy while you wait for your flight to leave.

• Get your steps in – a walk through the entire terminal is about three miles. At a brisk pace that’s about 5,781 steps.
• While walking, take time to enjoy the artwork located throughout the terminal. Many are creations from North Carolina artists.
• If you can snag a rocking chair in the Atrium or the mezzanine overlooking the Atrium, take advantage of it then kick back, relax and rock the minutes away. You can people-watch or gaze out the two-story windows at the planes parked outside.
• Hungry? Ran out of your own snacks (yes, many foods are allowed through the checkpoint)? CLT has many great places to eat. Several restaurants and stores are open for limited hours while they try to hire more people. If you must walk to another concourse to find something, please understand our concessions are working as quickly as possible to hire, train, do background checks (required for everyone who works at CLT) and fully reopen. We regret many of the lines are long right now, but our partners are glad to see you. We appreciate your patience and support.

Finally …

Pack your patience.

Like you, the people working at the Airport are dealing with the pandemic too. The Airport workers encounter thousands of customers every day. Each has a different need or concern. Sometimes nerves get frayed. Stress and tensions rise. Anger or frustration comes out. Take a deep breath. Remember, CLT workers are here and committed to helping make the travel experience better.

Please be kind to them.

May 28, 2021 - Where else can you work that every day brings a spectacular sunrise and sunset city view through massive windows, where cloudless blue skies seem to stretch on forever and where you can be within feet of aircraft that are the marvels of modern air transportation and feats of technology?

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, that’s where. Hundreds of businesses at the Airport are hiring right now.

CLT is a major employment center, with nearly 22,000 workers on site. The majority (more than 12,000) are employed by American Airlines, with nearly 10,000 additional workers employed by other airlines, tenants, contractors and businesses. Charlotte Douglas also is a major contributor to the region's economy, including 169,390 jobs for North Carolina residents and $5.7 billion in personal income, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation.

Jobs in a variety of categories are available at the airport. There are careers in aviation and airport security, managers and supervisors of the 130 and growing dining and retail outlets, stockers, drivers, baristas, cooks and so many more. Nearly all the organizations and businesses, including the Transportation Security Administration, HMS Host and Paradies Lagardère are hiring. Don’t forget about the Aviation Department, CLT’s operator. We’re hiring too.

CLT has many safety protocols in place to protect passengers and Airport workers. Hospital grade air filters, UV and electrostatic cleaning of frequently touched places like seats and tables, acrylic separators to create distance while at ticket counters and check out registers. That is in addition to the touchless technologies implemented and the many other steps airlines and businesses have taken to increase safety and cleanliness. Those efforts have been honored by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR™ Facility Accreditation, recognizing that CLT has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facilities.

Learn more about how we Keep it Rockin’ on our website.

Despite the pandemic, CLT remains one of the busiest airports in the world. People are flying again, and our passenger numbers are growing every day. That means now is the time. Join our aviation family. Apply for one of the many full- and part-time positions that are available. Find out more information at cltairport.com/jobs.

May 28, 2021 - Airports are not art museums, but the work of an artist goes a long way in creating a sense of place, sharing history and culture and calming people in a very busy travel environment.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is extremely fortunate to host the works of 16 artists from around the world, including people from right here in North Carolina. From sculptures that welcome passengers as they drive up to the terminal to colorful and interactive installations hanging in the terminal, there is plenty for passengers to study and enjoy.

The American Association of Airport Executives, a membership organization for people working at airports, pondered the role of public art in general and public art in airports specifically a few years ago.

“To truly witness the character of a city, one needs a composite view. Local history and the natural landscape can communicate time-honored value; while commerce or industry can tell of economic prowess and a community’s plans for the future. Just as these lenses can reveal the features and talents of a population, so too can the productivity of a city’s creatives. Fueled by the interests and imaginations of artists, curators, and other arts workers, public artworks and exhibitions can distinguish their surroundings with enticing insight.

“When situated in an airport, the role of the public art is given another dimension. In addition to symbolizing a place, the work now serves the traveler—welcoming, grounding, or inspiring them. As passengers do look up from the busy activity of a trip, thoughtfully curated artworks can be humanizing reminders of travel’s gift of discovery.”

In 2015 the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine named its list of nine “American Airports for Art Lovers.” While CLT was not on the list, our airport is home to some truly thought-provoking and innovative art installations.

“Loops,” in The Plaza between Concourses D and E, is a suspended kinetic sculpture inspired by aircraft contrails. Its rotation is motorized but that does not take away from the slow, measured, hypnotic movement created by the 200 linear feet of intertwined tubing.

On Concourse A Expansion, “Interconnected” is a 140-foot-long, 10-foot high digital screen that takes data generated by the airport from aircraft movements, people, baggage handling and other digital data and transforms it into mesmerizing, always moving, ever-changing digital sculpture. There are three screens of artist Refik Anadol’s digital art on the concourse. At night they are visible in vivid color to people driving up to the terminal curb front. At the time of its installation, CLT was the first airport in the world to have a large data-driven piece of artwork like “Interconnected

Another example of art in motion can be found in the center of the Atrium. Hanging above a sushi bar, the “First in Flight” mobile features 16 aircraft, including the International Space Station, a Boeing 747 and the Spirit of St. Louis, on three levels all rotating around each other.

Even static art on display at CLT weave a story about aviation and travel into the artists’ creative mind and onto canvas.

“Playful Race of Life Patterns” by Jonathan Grauel at Gate A3 is a layered painting that captures the city’s history in textiles alongside NASCAR heritage and flying in a whimsical way. Speaking of whimsy, pigs do fly … along with fish, alligators, bears and horses … in the humorous “Journey I” and “Journey II” at Gates B3 and B4.

Each piece or art in the airport is a showcase of the people who live in Charlotte, the diversity of the community the airport serves and the history and culture of the city. The airport is often a flyer’s first impression of the city and North Carolina. Art is but one way to tell our story to a captive audience.

If you cannot see CLT’s art in person, visit our website to learn more about the artists featured at CLT. Or, check out a few that are featured on our YouTube channel:

Interplay I and Interplay II by Ruth Ava Lyons

Honoring All Teachers & Walk Together Children by Nellie Ashford

Playful Race of Life Patterns & Texture of Time in Flight by Jonathan Grauel

Connections CLT by Ben Premeaux

We Love Our Art at CLT!

#DestinationCLT​: Interconnected

Public Art on Concourse B

Interconnected by Refik Anadol

Queen Charlotte 2017

Queen Charlotte Getting a Makeover 2021 Note: The Queen Charlotte statute is currently off display. Away for repairs, she will return in time to be unveiled inside the new CLT terminal lobby, which is under renovation now through 2025.

May 3, 2021 - In days gone by, there wasn’t much about an airport experience that was unique. An airport in Albuquerque looked much the same as the airport in Charlotte. These days, however, airports around the world have adopted a passenger experience and culture that mirrors and highlights the uniqueness of the cities in which they are located.

Local products are sold in stores, restaurants you would find around town have set up shop in the airport and art and cultural activities feature local scenery and resident artists from across the creative spectrum, from musicians to painters to sculptors.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is no different. As soon as you arrive in Charlotte and get off your plane or arrive at the security check in, we want you to know you are in Charlotte and we want you to have the opportunity to experience the things that make the Queen City so special.

Art has graced the walls of CLT, and sculpture has adorned Airport property for many years. Queen Charlotte, for whom the city and the Airport is named, has stood watch over CLT for more than a decade. Local pianists have tickled the ivory on the Atrium piano and unique installations connecting life to the airport have been around a long time too. Before the pandemic, anyway.

Then In 2020, the CLT Local campaign was launched to showcase those businesses and products that are born in North and South Carolina. This includes retail products, businesses exclusive to the Carolinas and businesses/concepts that began in the Carolinas and have expanded regionally and or nationally.

CLT Local began as an initiative to support Airport businesses. The program took on new meaning as Airport businesses found themselves struggling during a drop in business tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it will forever be a CLT program that highlights the businesses, products and people that make the Carolinas unique and fun.

So next time you are in the Airport, look for the CLT Local seal, support a local business, grab a souvenir made in the Carolinas or pick up a snack or sweet treat baked right here in Charlotte.

Retail Products Locally Made

Adulah Grits

Big Spoon Roasters

Bruce Julian Heritage Foods

Butterfields

Carolina Kettle Company

Carolina Nut Company

Cloister Honey

Ella B. Candles

FaerryKiss Naturals

Local Brewery Swag

Mount Olive Pickle Co.

NYE Ice-cream

Old School Brand

Postre Caramels

Queen Charlotte Pimento Cheese

Roots and Branches Crackers

Sweet Girl Cookies

Tastebuds Popcorn

Videri Chocolate

Retail Stores that Carry Local Products

Charlotte News & Gifts

Charlotte's Landing

Charlotte Supply Company

News2You

On The Square Gift & News

Queen City News & Gifts

1897 Market

Dining/Drinking

1897 Market

Bad Daddy's Burger

Bojangles'

Broken Spoke Distillery

Brookwood Farms BBQ

Captain Jack’s Tavern – Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

CLT Tap Room

NoDa Brewing Company

Rhino Markey & Deli

Salsarita's Mexican

Temp Kiosk Bar

Uptown Mini Bar

Wicked Weed Brewery

Whisky River

Charlotte Craft Beer

Many restaurants, as well as brew pubs in the Airport, sell local craft beer. Be sure to ask your server or check the menu when you sit down to eat.

Birdsong Brewery

Broken Spoke

Catawba Brewing

Great Wagon Road Distillery

Noda Brewing Company

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB)

Sugar Creek Brewery

Sycamore Brewing

Triple C Brewing Company

Wicked Weed Brewing Pub

Mar. 22, 2021 - In a unique partnership that came together in just a few days’ time, Charlotte Douglas International Airport and the Aviation Department were at the epicenter of mass COVID vaccination efforts this month in North Carolina.

Led by Atrium Health, the vaccination clinic was held at the Airport March 17 and 18 and was aimed at transportation workers who have not missed a beat, or a day at work, since the pandemic began a year ago. They have worked tirelessly to keep CLT operating smoothly and serve passengers’ travel needs.

Airlines at CLT have been critical partners in the nation’s transportation network, shuttling not only people but emergency supplies, masks and, even vaccines, around the country. The Airport never closes.

When the opportunity arose to help thousands of Airport workers (as well as the community around us) get vaccinated for COVID-19, a team of dozens of Aviation employees moved quickly to help plan and coordinate the combination drive through and walkup vaccination clinic.

In all 300 volunteers helped so that nearly 5,000 people received their first of two vaccines. An on-site clinic was convenient for those working at the airport and it demonstrates the power of teamwork and communicates a strong message: if you want a vaccine, we want to make it easy for you to get it. It’s an important next step in helping the travel and tourism industry bounce back from months of lackluster business.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport has been luckier than most. As American Airlines’ second largest connecting hub airport, CLT has benefitted from the power and strength of the airline’s business model during the pandemic. CLT has remained busy. That’s been shocking to many passengers who board a flight at a smaller, mostly deserted airport and land in Charlotte where it takes determination to social distance while navigating the terminal.

CLT has been fortunate and owes a big thanks to its passengers and partners for helping us keep the airport safe for everyone. In late 2020 the U.S. Surgeon General connected through CLT and tweeted that he was impressed that CLT passengers were following CDC guidance by masking up.

We also owe thanks to Atrium Health for partnering with the Aviation Department, City of Charlotte and American Airlines on the clinic. In two weeks, everyone who received their first shots will return to the Airport for the second round of vaccinations.

Nov. 24, 2020 - The advice is coming at us from all directions.

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay 6 feet away from people.

No big gatherings for Thanksgiving. Stay home.

What’s a person to do?

Charlotte Douglas International Airport and all its partners have worked tirelessly for the last eight months to create a safe and healthy Airport and to give passengers the confidence to fly. You can read about everything that has been done on the Keep it Rockin’ website. Your airline has also published a lot of great information on its web sites as well.

Ultimately, it is up to you, the customer, to decide if you are comfortable to fly. If you are, there are things we want you to plan for.

CLT is busy

CLT is so busy that people are often caught off guard by the crowds. They expect empty boarding gates and concourses. Amid the pandemic, CLT is averaging more than 1,000 daily arrivals and departures and 2.4 million passengers a month. Daily we see crowds at the checkpoints, in the Atrium and at the boarding gates.

Please remember you will not be coming to an empty Airport. Whether starting travels here or connecting to a flight bound for another destination, passengers should be prepared with plans aimed at your safety.

CLT airlines have consolidated their operations to be more efficient over the last eight months. Yet, each day more than 1,000 flights arrive and depart from CLT. Those flights serve 21,053 originating passengers daily. Another 116,396 people arrive at CLT to connect to another flight. That’s a lot of hustle and bustle, especially as flights arrive and depart in clusters.

CLT is fortunate to have its strong partnership with American Airlines. As CLT largest airline and American’s second largest hub, CLT has weathered the downtown in travel caused by the pandemic better than some airports. That means we can be here to serve the flying public.

Take personal responsibility

We strongly encourage people to do the right thing and adhere to the CDC directives and public health department guidance.

On Nov. 23, the North Carolina governor revised its Executive Order regarding masks. Anyone age 5 and up at Charlotte Douglas International Airport must wear a face mask, with limited medical exceptions.

In addition, the new Order allows law enforcement to enforce face covering mandates against anyone who refuses to wear one. Since June, face coverings have been required at CLT throughout all parts of the passenger journey - from the parking lots and shuttle bus rides to the check in at the terminal and boarding aircraft. All airlines at CLT require passengers to wear face coverings to board a flight.

The Airport continues to educate our customers, tenants and employees regarding Governor Copper’s face covering mandate to help stop the spread of COVID-19, while meeting our mission to assist our customers in their travels. Executive Order 180 allows law enforcement the ability to issue citations, giving CMPD an additional tool to use. These citations could carry a fine up to $1,000. We remain focused on creating an environment of education and safety. Messaging is on CLT’s public address system that airs throughout the terminal reminding passengers that face coverings are required. We also have messaging and signage regarding the face covering mandate on roadways entering the airport, our entrance doors and on the terminal’s visual screens.

We routinely remind people of safety guidance. Signage is located throughout the terminal and messages routinely play over the public address system. We also offer a free mask to anyone in need at the Visitor Info Center in Baggage Claim as at each security checkpoint podiums. And, we have 60+ hand sanitizing units located throughout the Airport.

Some airlines are blocking seats in their gate areas. The Aviation Department has not required it so that families and others who have quarantined together can sit together. Blocked seating would further complicate the challenges of a crowded airport. We have adjusted Atrium seating and lines to dining to encourage social distancing. And, our Keep It Rockin’s signage serves as a reminder to keep 6 feet apart, wear a mask and wash hands frequently.

We rely on our customers to take the lead in protecting themselves and others. We’ve also offered our own tips on how to create distance in a crowded terminal. We don’t have more space to offer, but we can offer space awareness.

Committed to safety for all

Cleaning is a daily priority.

ABM, our commercial janitorial service, has nearly 300 employees who work full-time seven days in shifts that range from 35 to nearly 75 people. Things you touch often - handrails, touch screens, seat arms etc. – get a lot of attention from the cleaning teams. The third shift focuses on deep cleaning and uses electrostatic spray with cleansing agents designed to combat COVID-19 to clean the terminal’s public areas.

Daily, the cleaning crews go through 128 microfiber cloths, 1,050 pairs of gloves, 192 Blue Huck super absorbent towels and gallons of cleaning solutions.

We want everyone to have a safe travel experience - during the upcoming holidays and any time you decide to fly. Know what to expect. Be prepared and take the lead in your own safety. Together, we can work together to keep everyone safe and happy and Keep it Rockin’ at CLT.

Sept. 8, 2020 - It’s hard to social distance anywhere. But in a busy, crowded airport it can feel impossible. You have told us as much. We’ve seen it and experienced it too. We have come up with some tips on how to social distance when flying in or out or connecting through Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Take up space.

Before COVID-19, it was considered polite to take up as little space as possible when flying. Keep your carry-on bag close to you. Hold your handbag or backpack so the seat next to you is available for another passenger. On your flight, pick one armrest and leave the other for the person next to you.

We know it’s tight in some places in the terminal, the boarding areas especially. Airlines have consolidated flights. Multiple flights board and leave at about the same time. That can make the Airport feel crowded, even though fewer people are traveling than in the past.

Since we all are supposed to stay 6 feet apart, we now suggest you take up space:

If able, put your backpack or carry-on in front of or in the seat next to you. For reference, two seats between you and the next person is 5 feet. Three seats equal 7 feet. While sitting, stretch your legs out in front of you. Please don’t block a walking path or pose a trip hazard, especially if it’s crowded. The idea is to take up more room than you normally would to create space. Stand or walk with your carry-on stretched in front of or behind you. Using your luggage as a shield adds space and will help signal to others to keep their distance. Walk. Yes, get your steps in while you are in the terminal. If you are moving, people will naturally move out of the way or you can move around the crowds. Because social distancing can be tricky, always wear a face covering for added protection. A June executive order from the North Carolina governor means everyone is required to wear a face mask in the Airport. Your airline already requires you to have one on when you enter the terminal and during your flight.

Be last, not first.

Happens all the time. The airline announces that families with children and those who need extra time can begin boarding and the rest of us rush to line up. It’s going to be 15 minutes or more before we can get on board, but by golly, we are getting in line.

Rather than rush to stand in line (next to someone who might be standing too close), wait. Let others board first while you stand back from the crowd. Sit or stand in adjacent or vacant boarding areas while you wait. Look for quiet spots out of the way, sit or stand and take up space. Your flight won’t leave without you. Just stay close enough to monitor the line to board.

Look for a quiet spot to hang out.

We know we told you the Airport is busy and crowded but there are places you are likely to find quiet and space. Here are our suggestions:

The mezzanine above the Atrium and Food Court has rocking chairs and benches. It can be busy but there is often room to spread out. The second story in the new A Concourse Expansion. It’s rarely busy, and you can grab a Starbucks while you are up there. It overlooks the boarding area so it’s easy to see when the crowds have dissipated. The nook along the new A Concourse walkway is a large open space that also overlooks the ramp where aircraft park. Explore the more than 80 open concessions. If you are moving, it’s easier to create space for yourself. You and your traveling companions can visit the selfie stations outside 1897 Market near the entrance to Concourse B (Charlotte Postcard) and in the seating nook along the hallway to Gates A 21-29. Pack a snack.

Frugal travelers have been bringing food through airport checkpoints for years.

You can avoid lines if you bring your own snacks. Food can be brought through the security checkpoint, though, in most cases, it must be screened separately from your luggage. Liquids in excess of 3.4 ounces are still prohibited, but an empty water bottle is allowed. Fill it at a touchless hydration station on the other side.

Now, of course, we want you to support the Airport concessions. Many are small, local businesses working hard to recover from the pandemic’s impact. But if the thought of standing in line for something to eat is a little too much to bear right now because of COVID, bring something with you. We want your business, but we also want you to feel safe and confident in your decision to fly.

Not sure what is allowed through the checkpoint, check out the What Can I Bring? feature at TSA.gov