Charlotte Douglas International Airport receives $32 million from FAA

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  • Published on March 3, 2023
  • Last Updated May 15, 2023
  • In Culture

The funding was granted to the airport in an effort to help improve passengers’ travel experience.

Thanks to the FAA, Charlotte Douglas International Airport will be getting a facelift. On Monday, Rep. Jeff Jackson announced that the airport will be receiving $32 million dollars from the federal government for its “Concourse E Improvement Project.” The funding is coming from the Federal Aviation Administration by way of the Biden administration’s bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“CLT is critical to the connectivity of the Southeast United States to the global economy, making Charlotte a center for business,” Jackson said in a statement. “This grant will ensure CLT is able to continue to be one of the busiest airports in the world and sustain the growth of our thriving region.”

Douglas International isn’t the only airport benefiting from this law, though. Detour reported that approximately 100 airports around the country are receiving funding in varying amounts to put toward improvements, totalling nearly $1 billion. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is getting the largest grant, coming in at $50 million to put toward its Terminal 3.

“Americans deserve the best airports in the world, and with demand for air travel surging back, this funding to improve the passenger experience couldn’t come at a more urgent time,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “These grants will make it faster and easier to check your bags, get through security and find your gate, all while creating jobs and supporting local economies.”

Much like the objectives of other airports, the money will go toward updating hold rooms, restrooms and other common areas. All changes made will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s regulations, as well as work to increase passenger capacity and energy efficiency.

The terminal lobby expansion began in 2019 as a phase of the $3.1 billion Destination CLT investment. According to airport officials, the new and improved terminal will be opened in 2025. The gain doesn’t come without compromise, though. Security checkpoint B will close March 17 as a result of the project and will stay closed throughout the summer travel season. Although Douglas International will gain 175,000 square feet of terminal and lobby space once completed, the number of security checkpoints will go from five to three. Airport officials said that those checkpoints will have the same number of security lanes, however, resulting in greater efficiency.

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