One Of The Oldest Airports In The U.S., Charlotte Douglas International Airport In North Carolina, Is Now 88 Years Old
By Carolyn Harmon|Published January 23, 2023
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Carolyn Harmon
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Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
Established in 1935, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the oldest airports in the U.S. Ranked among the world’s busiest airports, it averages 1,424 arrivals and departures and 118,636 people traveling through CLT each day. A record-breaking year came in 2019 when CLT had more than 50.2 million passengers for an average of 137,449 people daily. And in 2021, CLT grew to the sixth busiest airport in the U.S., serving 43 million folks that year. Let’s take a look into the success of one of the oldest airports in the U.S.
CLT's mission is to be the preferred airport and airline hub by providing the highest quality product for the lowest possible cost, which explains the long-standing history.
It covers 5,558 acres with four runways and one passenger terminal offering 115 gates.
Charlotte received Works Progress Administration funds to establish Charlotte's first municipal airport which at the time was the largest-single WPA project in the U.S.
In 1935, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the Charlotte Municipal Airport with these important men pictured from left: W. States Lee, Charlotte's first airport authority; Dr. Luther Little, First Baptist Church pastor; Ben E. Douglas, mayor of Charlotte; James B. Marshall, city manager; Baxter J. Hunter, board of county commissioners; David ROA, WPA engineer; George Corn, WPA state director; Dr. Julian Miller, Charlotte Observer editor; and John Grice, WPA district director.
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Then in 1954, the Douglas of Charlotte Douglas International Airport came into the picture.
Serving three terms from 1935 to 1941, Benjamin Elbert Douglas Sr. was the first Charlotte government mayor elected by voters after a new charter changed the process.
Some of the aircraft models near the Aviation History display hang from the ceiling.
As a commercial-civil-military facility, the airport also houses the Charlotte Air National Guard base and its host unit, the 145th Airlift Wing of the NC Air National Guard.
CLT provides nonstop air service to 184 destinations worldwide, home to eight major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers.
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Wherever your life leads, be assured that Charlotte Douglas International Airport will get you there.
