Charlotte Douglas airport ranks 5th busiest in the world, report says

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Douglas International Airport was ranked the fifth busiest airport in the world, according to the Airports Council International preliminary rankings released Monday.

The airport in west Charlotte was ranked fifth busiest in arrivals and departures and sixth for passenger traffic.

In 2020, Charlotte Douglas was sixth for arrivals and departures and 18th for passenger traffic.

[ALSO READ: Charlotte lands on ranking of ‘World’s Best Cities’]

“The rankings reflect the important role CLT played in the aviation industry last year as one of the busiest airports in the world,” said CLT’s CEO Haley Gentry. “Many people were eager to travel by air again in 2021, and we’re happy to partner with the airlines to serve these passengers coming through Charlotte. This year, we are predicting an even stronger 2022 with one of our best summers ever.”

Charlotte Douglas handled 519,895 arrivals and departures last year and served 43 million passengers, which is 86% of the record-breaking 50 million passengers before the pandemic in 2019.

(Watch the video below: Spring break travelers advised to get to Charlotte airport three hours early)

Spring break travelers advised to get to Charlotte airport three hours early

©2022 Cox Media Group