Community Corner
CLT Welcomes 27.2 Million Passengers In 2020
COVID-19 impacts on airline travel stifled Charlotte Douglas International Airport's 2020 year-end passenger and operation numbers.
2021-02-10
COVID-19 impacts on airline travel stifled Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s 2020 year-end passenger and operation numbers. The Airport served 27.2 million passengers in 2020, a 46 percent drop from CLT’s all-time high of 50.2 million passengers in 2019. The last time CLT had similar numbers was in 2005.
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“Nearly 30 million passengers is still a big number,” said Acting Aviation Director/CEO Haley Gentry. “By far, it’s definitely not where we want to be, but we are faring much better than many of our counterparts who have seen passenger reductions between 60 to 70 percent.”
Today, Charlotte Douglas is at 54 percent of its 2019 passenger numbers due to fewer business and leisure travelers.
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Overall, aircraft operations logged 397,983 departures and arrivals in 2020 compared to 578,263 in 2019, a 31 percent drop.
Flights, however, were added last year from Charlotte. Early in the pandemic American Airlines identified CLT as a focus city as it rallied to rebuild its schedule. American launched service in 2020 to Appleton, Wis.; Bozeman, Mont.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Williamsport, Pa. and Montrose-Telluride, Colo. Southwest Airlines also began flights to Denver, St. Louis and Phoenix.
CLT currently offers nonstop flights to 180 destinations, including 35 international locations and three U.S. territories.
Cargo, although slightly down, was the big winner of 2020 due to the popularity of e-commerce with 174,913 tons of goods transported through CLT versus 184,449 tons in 2019, a 5 percent dip.
The Airport remained focused throughout 2020 on instilling confidence in passengers to fly again and to deter the spread of COVID-19. Numerous safety measures were implemented. A housekeeping crew of nearly 300 employees worked around the clock to provide daily and deep cleanings with extra attention given to high-touch points. Protective shields were installed at ticket counters and cashier booths, and touchless payment options were introduced at many concessions. Hundreds of signs were placed in the terminal reminding passengers to wear a face covering, wash their hands and social distance.
As a result, CLT earned the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation in December, which recognizes Charlotte Douglas has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facilities. CLT is the first airport in the state of North Carolina to achieve the accreditation. Nationwide just 13 airports have received the GBAC accreditation, although numerous others are in the process.
The Airport’s high safety standards have been recognized by customers as well. In CLT’s most recent 2020 passenger survey, nine out of 10 passengers gave the Airport high marks for the cleanliness of the terminal and eight out of 10 passengers were highly satisfied with the Airport overall.
On another high note, Destination CLT, the Airport’s $2.5 to $3.1 billion capital improvement program, continued making progress. Charlotte Douglas completed Concourse A and C renovations in 2020 and construction of the Terminal Lobby Expansion remains on schedule for completion in 2025.
“The past year has been a learning experience for all of us,” Gentry said. “If anything, it has taught us perseverance, resilience and how to develop multiple plans. We remain vigilant about the needs of our passengers and employees and are truly optimistic about what lies ahead for CLT in 2021.”
As an economic engine of the Carolinas, in 2019 CLT contributed $24.6 billion in annual economic input, $1.3 billion in state/local taxes, 169,390 jobs for N.C. residents and $6.8 billion in personal income, according to a report conducted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation.
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CLT Passenger Numbers
CLT Passenger Numbers
CLT Passenger Numbers
CLT Operation Numbers
CLT Operation Numbers
CLT Operation Numbers
Year
Passenger Numbers
Percentage Increase/Decrease
Year
Operation Numbers Landings and Departures
Percentage Increase/Decrease
2020
27,205,082
-46%
2020
397,983
-31%
2019
50,179,879
8%
2019
578,263
5%
2018
46,447,638
1%
2018
550,013
0.4%
2017
45,909,899
3%
2017
553,812
0.4%
2016
44,422,022
-1%
2016
545,742
0.3%
2015
44,875,519
1%
2015
543,944
-0.2%
2014
44,272,432
2%
2014
545,178
-2%
2013
43,456,310
5%
2013
557,948
1%
2012
41,228,372
6%
2012
552,093
2%
2011
39,043,708
2%
2011
539,842
2%
2010
38,254,207
11%
2010
529,101
4%
2009
34,536,666
-1%
2009
509,448
-5%
2008
34,739,020
5%
2008
536,253
3%
2007
33,165,688
12%
2007
522,541
3%
2006
29,693,949
5%
2006
509,559
-2%
2005
28,206,052
12%
2005
521,878
11%
2004
25,162,943
9%
2004
468,464
6%
2003
23,062,570
-2%
2003
443,394
-3%
2002
23,597,926
2%
2002
455,516
-1%
2001
23,177,555
0.40%
2001
461,264
2%
2000
23,088,455
2000
452,009
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CLT 2020 Month by Month - Operation/Passenger/Cargo/Daily Departure Numbers
CLT 2020 Month by Month - Operation/Passenger/Cargo/Daily Departure Numbers
CLT 2020 Month by Month - Operation/Passenger/Cargo/Daily Departure Numbers
CLT 2020 Month by Month - Operation/Passenger/Cargo/Daily Departure Numbers
CLT 2020 Month by Month - Operation/Passenger/Cargo/Daily Departure Numbers
Operations
Passengers
Cargo
Daily Departures
January
49,692
4,192,829
15,193
772
February
46,000
3,934,246
15,277
759
March
42,129
2,315,652
14,386
654
April
19,189
340,265
13,225
306
May
20,701
1,000,522
13,567
315
June
22,789
1,568,426
13,698
355
July
30,374
1,994,457
14,469
468
August
32,927
2,115,261
14,543
505
September
32,253
2,358,775
15,340
512
October
34,559
2,768,190
16,058
527
November
32,645
2,288,971
14,025
519
December
34,725
2,327,488
15,132
535
Total
397,983
27,205,082
174,913
Average - 519 daily departures
This press release was produced by the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The views expressed are the author's own.
