Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has officially released its 2025 passenger data, and the headlines are drawing plenty of attention. After a record-shattering 2024 that saw nearly 59 million travelers, the airport recorded 53.6 million passengers in 2025—a 9% decrease.
While a drop might sound concerning for one of the world’s busiest hubs, airport officials are calling it the “second-busiest year on record,” suggesting that the 2024 surge was an extraordinary peak rather than the new baseline.
Why the 9% Decrease
Several factors contributed to the cooling of CLT’s rapid growth over the past twelve months:
- Economic Headwinds: Rising travel costs played a significant role. With flight prices reportedly up roughly 7% year-over-year, many casual travelers tightened their belts, leading to a dip in domestic leisure demand.
- Operational Adjustments: Major carriers at the hub—most notably American Airlines—underwent seasonal and strategic scheduling adjustments. This resulted in a 4% decline in total aircraft operations compared to 2024.
- Construction & “Growing Pains”: CLT is currently in the middle of its massive “Destination CLT” project. While the Terminal Lobby Expansion reached major milestones in 2025, ongoing work on Concourses D and E, along with the fourth parallel runway, created some capacity constraints and navigational hurdles for travelers.
- Safety & Consumer Sentiment: Early 2025 reports indicated that some passengers felt hesitation due to industry-wide concerns over flight safety and reliability, which impacted first-quarter numbers.
The Silver Lining
Despite the overall decline, CLT remains a powerhouse. International travel stayed remarkably resilient, down only 2% from the previous year. Furthermore, the number of local passengers (those starting their journey in Charlotte) actually grew by 10% over the last decade, reflecting the region’s massive population boom.
“2026 will be a year of sustainable, long-term growth as we continue investing in critical infrastructure,” said CLT CEO Haley Gentry.
With a new nonstop route to Abu Dhabi launching this March and several terminal renovations nearing completion, the “Queen City” hub is clearly positioning itself for a rebound.
What do you think? Have the higher ticket prices or the terminal construction changed your travel plans recently? Let us know in the comments!
