Charlotte/Douglas International Airport

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport
IATA: CLT - ICAO: KCLT - FAA: CLT
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator City of Charlotte
Serves Charlotte, North Carolina
Elevation AMSL 748 ft (228 m)
Coordinates 35°12′50″N, 80°56′35″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 7,502 2,287 Asphalt/Concrete
18L/36R 8,674 2,644 Asphalt/Concrete
18R/36L 10,000 3,048 Concrete

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is an airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The airport gained its current name in 1982, and is currently a major domestic and international air hub for US Airways.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The early years

In 1936, the Charlotte Municipal Airport opened and was operated by the City of Charlotte. Eastern Air Lines began its first regularly scheduled passenger service in 1937. The United States Army Air Forces took control of the airport and established Morris Field Air Base in 1941.

[edit] 1950 to mid-1960s: into the jet age

In 1950, Eastern Airlines began regularly scheduled passenger service from CLT. In 1954, a 70,000 square foot passenger terminal opened, and the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport in honor of former Charlotte Mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr. The terminal had two floors, although passenger operations were confined to the ground floor. Ticketing and baggage claim were located on each side of an open space which bisected the building from north to south, and a mezzanine restaurant and various airline offices overlooked this open space. Delta Air Lines began regularly scheduled passenger service in 1956.

Eastern Air Lines began the region's first regularly scheduled jet service in 1962. Eastern used the west pier, Piedmont and Delta the center pier, and United and Southern used the east pier.

[edit] Late 1960s to 1978: growth pre-deregulation

A major renovation project in the late 1960s expanded the facility considerably. Eastern opened a 'unit terminal' in 1967, replacing the old west pier. This new facility had 8 dedicated gates for Eastern, each with its own departure lounge, as well as a snack bar and separate baggage claim space. Eastern passengers continued to check in at the main terminal.

Two years later in 1969, a new enclosed concourse was built parallel to the center pier. When it was completed, Piedmont, Eastern and Delta moved in and the old center pier was demolished. The new concourse also had separate departure lounges, as well as restrooms and an enlarged baggage claim area. United's flights continued to the use the east pier, although an enclosed holdroom was added for waiting passengers.

In 1973, Eastern added two more gates to the end of its west concourse.

[edit] 1978 to 1989: Becoming a major hub

After airline deregulation in 1978, passenger numbers at the terminal nearly doubled between 1978 and 1980, and a new 10,000-foot parallel runway and control tower were opened in 1979 to handle the increased passenger loads. The airport's master plan also called for construction of a new terminal across the runway from the existing site. Ground for this expansion was broken in 1979.

In 1979, Piedmont Airlines dedicated Charlotte as the hub for its rapidly expanding route network. To accommodate the booming growth of the facility, a new 325,000-square-foot passenger terminal opened in 1982, and the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In 1987, Piedmont inaugurated non-stop service to London.

In the mid-1980s, the old terminal site was converted in to a cargo center, and the central concourse and Eastern 'unit terminal' were removed to make way for larger, more modern cargo buildings. The original main building still stands, however, and is used for office space. The old control tower was removed in the late 1990's.

In 1989, Piedmont was acquired via merger by US Air.

[edit] 1990 to 2004: the influence of US Airways

In 1990, a new 80,000 square-foot international and commuter concourse opened, and in 1991 further expansion of the terminal buildings continued, reflective of USAir's dominating presence at the airport.

A Rocking Chair in between concourses. February 2005.
A Rocking Chair in between concourses. February 2005.

In 1992, Lufthansa began Boeing 747 service to Germany; however, this service was discontinued shortly thereafter. In 1994, British Airways began service to London via a "global alliance" with USAir. This has since been discontinued, as the airlines have chosen opposite alliances.

When USAir became US Airways in 1996, Charlotte remained its largest hub in terms of passenger traffic, and in 1999, plans were announced for the construction of a regional carrier concourse (present-day Concourse E) and for the expansion of Concourses A and D.

In 2002, the new 26-gate Concourse E opened, and US Airways also began non-stop service to Belize, Freeport (Bahamas), Providenciales, Punta Cana, and St. Croix.

In 2003, the main ticketing hall was expanded to the east, providing 13 additional ticketing counters and a new security checkpoint; and Concourse D was expanded by an additional 9 gates. That year, US Airways began service to Costa Rica, Mexico City, and St. Kitts. Lufthansa also returned to the airport, this time providing service to Munich.

[edit] 2005 and beyond

Following US Airways' acquisition by America West Airlines (the airline will retain the US Airways name), Charlotte (CLT) remains the primary domestic hub for the airline. However, the vast majority of US Airways' international routes are served out of the airline's second-largest hub, Philadelphia. The attempted acquisition of Delta by US Airways would have made the combined hub operations at CLT and Delta's larger hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), located only 240 miles away, redundant. US Airways stated its intention to downgrade [1] its prestigious hub operations at CLT, in favor of the significantly larger Delta hub at ATL; however, the takeover attempt was rebuffed and Charlotte's fortress hub status remains intact.[citation needed]

[edit] Construction

The airport has acquired the majority of approximately 1,500 acres of land needed to build its fourth runway. The runway, which will be adjacent to Runway 18R/36L, will be 9,000 feet long. The airport anticipates starting runway design in early 2006. Pending funding approval and the issuance of required permits, construction will begin in Fall 2006.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

  • On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashed on final approach en route from Charleston, SC. The crash site is 3.3 miles due south of Runway 36 west of York Road & north of Thornfield Road. The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the accident, was a "lack of altitude awareness" of the pilots, at critical points during the approach. The pilots conversed regarding numerous non-operational topics. With pilot attention drawn outside the aircraft, altitude "call outs" were neglected. With foggy treetops in sight, the pilot pulled back sharply & went to full throttle. The DC-9-31, traveling over 200 MPH, clipped trees, snapped wings, ruptured fuel tanks and spilled 13,000 pounds of JP-5 fuel. The fiery airliner slid through dense woods into a ravine, broke into pieces, coming to rest with most exit doors blocked by pine trees. The Steele Creek Vol. Fire Dept. responded quickly extingushing the fire within minutes. Of 82 people onboard, 13 survived the crash and fire. Many passengers were wearing stylish "double-knit" garments that adhered to the skin when burned. Two other passengers died several days later. [2]

[edit] Airlines and destinations

[edit] Concourse A (Gates A1-A12)

[edit] Concourse B (Gates B1-B16)

  • US Airways (Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Chicago-O'Hare, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Eagle/Vail (seasonal), Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Harrisburg, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Jacksonville (FL), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manchester (NH), Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR) [begins May 28, 2007], Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Sarasota/Bradenton, Seattle/Tacoma, St. Thomas, Syracuse, Tampa, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach, Wilmington)

[edit] Concourse C (Gates C2-C19)

  • US Airways (See Concourse B)
    • US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Birmingham (AL), Charleston (SC), Columbus (OH), Detroit, Greensboro, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Manchester (NH), Memphis, Nashville, New York-JFK, Newark, Norfolk, Portland (ME), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Savannah, St. Louis, Washington-Dulles, Wilmington (NC))

[edit] Concourse D (Gates D1-D13) (International)

  • JetBlue Airways (Boston [begins May 1, 2007], New York-JFK)
  • Lufthansa (Munich)
  • US Airways (Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize City, Cancun, Cozumel, Frankfurt, Freeport, Grand Cayman, Guatemala City, Liberia, London-Gatwick, Mexico City, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, San Jose (CR), St. Croix, St. Kitts, St.Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas)

[edit] Concourse E (Gates E1-E26)

  • US Airways
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Midwest (Athens (GA), Lewisburg)
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Albany, Atlanta, Boston, Charleston (WV), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Columbia, Fayetteville (AR), Greenville (SC), Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson, Lexington, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Savannah, Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson, White Plains)
    • US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Columbus (OH), Fayetteville (NC), Greenville (SC), Indianapolis, Louisville, Raleigh/Durham)
    • US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Asheville, Augusta (GA), Bristol/Johnson City/Kingsport, Chattanooga, Charleston (WV), Charlottesville, Columbia, Fayetteville (NC), Florence (SC), Greenville (SC), Hilton Head, Huntington, Jacksonville (NC), Knoxville, Lynchburg, New Bern, Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, Salisbury)
    • US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Akron, Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Boston, Bristol/Johnson City/Kingsport, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Charleston (WV), Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus (OH), Dayton, Detroit, Fayetteville (AR), Fayetteville (NC), Gainesville (FL), Greensboro, Greenville (SC), Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (NC), Kansas City, Knoxville, Little Rock, Lexington, Louisville, Manchester (NH), Memphis, Milwaukee, Mobile, Montgomery, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, New Bern, Newark, Norfolk, Pensacola, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (NY), Sarasota/Bradenton, Tallahassee, Washington-Dulles, Wilmington)

[edit] Trivia

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the few airports that sees, on a somewhat regular basis, service by all of the active aircraft in the Airbus fleet (not including the A380 which is still in testing):

The father and two brothers of a young Stephen Colbert, the American satirist and host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, were killed in the 1974 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 just south of the airport.

Wide-body aircraft regularly servicing the airport:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Charlotte would be new Delta’s No. 3 hub. The Charlotte Observer (2006-11-28).
  2. ^ Eastern 212 Accident Report (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board (1975-05-23).
  3. ^ Aviation Safety Network retrieved 26 November 2006

[edit] External links

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