Past and Present
Air Service has long been essential to the Charlotte business community.  In the mid-1930's, the city was a regular stop for Eastern Airlines and enjoyed daily air-mail service.    

However, the airport that preceded today's facility was privately owned and used only on weekends for air shows and war pilot training.  In 1935, thanks to the leadership and foresight of Mayor Ben Elbert Douglas Sr. (for whom Charlotte Douglas International Airport is named), Charlotte voters approved a bond issue that brought the airport under municipal administration and set the stage for the expansion that was to come.

After World War II, growth came rapidly to the airport.   From the first scheduled jet service (Eastern, 1962) to the first scheduled international cargo flight (to Zurich, Flying Tigers, 1978), from its status as a passenger hub (Eastern and Piedmont in the late 1970's/early 1980's and now US Airways) to construction on the terminal and airfield, the airport has expanded to supply the comprehensive, convenient air transportation that Charlotteans expect and depend on.

Today, Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranks as the nation's 16th busiest airport in operations, 19th in passengers and 35th in cargo.   It serves 1.5 million people in an area that includes all or part of 18 counties in North and South Carolina.

In 2004, the airport boarded 11,511,465 passengers with an average of 600 daily departures providing service to more than 117 destinations in the United States and around the world.  The airport is served by ten major airlines and seven regional carriers.  US Airways operates its largest jet hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.  

Charlotte is two hours or less by air to more than half of the country's population, making the airport an excellent location for cargo operators.  Cargo carriers serving Charlotte carried 184,282 tons of domestic and international cargo in 2004.  The Charlotte Air Cargo Center is served by 18 cargo companies and more than 70 freight forwarders.

The airport also is a major employment center.  The employers who maintain staff on site have 18,693 workers.  The majority - 5,063 are employed by US Airways, with nearly 8,500 additional workers employed by other airlines, tenants, other businesses and the City of Charlotte's Aviation Division.   But the airport's impact extends far beyond passengers, cargo and employees.   Charlotte Douglas International Airport also is a valuable tool for economic development.

Since 1982, when the current terminal opened, 7,852 new companies have invested more than $5 billion in Mecklenburg County and created 78,042 new jobs.  The number of foreign-owned companies with operations in Mecklenburg County has increased from 147 in 1982 to 340 today.  In many instances, these companies cite the airport as a major reason why they chose to locate in the Charlotte Region.

The economic activity that the airport generates is also a major contribution to the vitality and growth of this region's economy.  While direct and indirect impacts are important, the majority of the activity comes from induced (multiplier) impacts.  For example, 38,773, or 54%, of the 71,392 total jobs related to the airport are multiplier; $2.042 billion, or 51%, of the total $3.998 billion economic impact is multiplier.

Economic Asset
Building For The Future

For further information regarding the economic impact of the airport, contact the
Charlotte Chamber or the Charlotte Regional Partnership.