Charlotte-Douglas Airport (CLT) Expansion

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Not a lot more detail than the Tweet...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/07/26/aa-adds-43-nonstop-routes-before-trimming-growth-higher-fuel-costs/841243002/

[Miesian Corners]

On 7/24/2018 at 10:47 PM, LKN704 said:

A new airport map has been uploaded to the CLT website:

http://www.cltairport.com/MapsandDirections/Documents/CLT Maps/SDWRMap.pdf

Here in the terminal, the maps have yet to be updated. SMH. 

Love those exposed plugs. Very industrial. 

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, Miesian Corners said:

Here in the terminal, the maps have yet to be updated. SMH. 

 

Love those exposed plugs. Very industrial. 

The signs are just so laughably bad. The backlighting and the ink quality of the print. Part of my job is creating signs like this, and they should never look all splotchy with inconsistencies everywhere. somebody should have rejected these upon delivery.

[tozmervo]

1 hour ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

The signs are just so laughably bad. The backlighting and the ink quality of the print. Part of my job is creating signs like this, and they should never look all splotchy with inconsistencies everywhere. somebody should have rejected these upon delivery.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are yet replaced. They may have had to get those installed just to get the concourse open and will replace with better quality soon. (a theory based on personal experience)

[teeg]

4 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they are yet replaced. They may have had to get those installed just to get the concourse open and will replace with better quality soon. (a theory based on personal experience)

They do look temporary.  Zoom in and you can see screws or nails along the bottom.  If that was the intended look, I am sure that they would have spaced the screws more evenly.  

[Miesian Corners]

I don’t see any screws or nails anywhere. They look identical to all signs in A North. 

 

[teeg]

6 minutes ago, Miesian Corners said:

I don’t see any screws or nails anywhere. They look identical to all signs in A North. 

 

I added arrows pointing to the (possibly imaginary) screws.  I recognize that I might be be very wrong, though.   

[nicholas]

4 hours ago, Miesian Corners said:

Love those exposed plugs. Very industrial. 

Looks like they just printed out some paper banners, glued them on the walls, and called it a day. 

[Cadi40]

I find it funny that the arrows are pointing at each other.

[Miesian Corners]

4 hours ago, teeg said:

I added arrows pointing to the (possibly imaginary) screws.  I recognize that I might be be very wrong, though.   

Those are what holds the glass panels together. Every sign has them in A North. 

[HighRiseHillbilly]

2 hours ago, nicholas said:

Looks like they just printed out some paper banners, glued them on the walls, and called it a day. 

Exactly. Looks like someone took them out of a backpack, unfolded them, then stuck them up there.

[Matthew.Brendan]

World Class. 

[deleted]

2 hours ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

World Class. 

In their defense, they weren't aiming for world class (despite the "fit for a queen" campaign).  It's a no frills airport and the biggest need is expanded concourses and more seats.  In Terminal A expansion, they cleared that low bar.

[dubone]

It is World Class, of the Third Kind. 

[stw52]

I know it was mentioned previously here, but maybe there is renewed hope for an all year round CLT - DUB flight. Irish airline is to expand with three new transatlantic flights. BoAs post Brexit moves to Dublin has increased this chance of happening.

Aer Lingus to announce new transatlantic routes in weeks

[Trickbot]

8 minutes ago, stw52 said:

I know it was mentioned previously here, but maybe there is renewed hope for an all year round CLT - DUB flight. Irish airline is to expand with three new transatlantic flights. BoAs post Brexit moves to Dublin has increased this chance of happening.

Aer Lingus to announce new transatlantic routes in weeks

I got excited at first thinking DUB was Dubai, but then I got confused about the Irish, talk, then I remembered Dubai is DXB. I really want a Middle Eastern airline to come here. I took Qatar out of Atlanta and it was excellent.

[Hushpuppy321]

Let's discuss the planned fourth Parallel Runway set to commence construction in the 2020 timeframe.  Being planned as a 12,000ft Runway does AA have plans to begin non-stop flights to Asia from CLT?  I think that's normally what the larger runways are needed for.  Transpacific flights.

Is there (will there) be demand for direct flights to major Asia destinations? (Beijing, Hong-Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, Sydney)

[CLT2014]

22 minutes ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

Let's discuss the planned fourth Parallel Runway set to commence construction in the 2020 timeframe.  Being planned as a 12,000ft Runway does AA have plans to begin non-stop flights to Asia from CLT?  I think that's normally what the larger runways are needed for.  Transpacific flights.

Is there (will there) be demand for direct flights to major Asia destinations? (Beijing, Hong-Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, Sydney)

AA is pretty weak to Asia compared to Delta and United, and is focusing their efforts to grow in the region from LAX and DFW.

In addition, CLT is probably the worst positioned AA hub, besides MIA, for flights to Asia. Passengers west of CLT can connect in DFW or LAX, while passengers north of North Carolina can better connect in Chicago. That leaves NC, SC, VA, GA, and FL making sense for routing through CLT. AA currently routes Florida connections over DFW from Asia.

I think it will come eventually, but the city needs to grow a bit more so the flight isn't 95% connections and our hub carrier needs to build out their West Coast network to Asia so they can then focus on CLT.

Edited August 3, 2018 by CLT2014

[kermit]

^ from a distance perspective the Northern Asia cities (Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul) are the only ones close enough to serve from CLT on relatively conventional aircraft. Cities further South (Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney) start to push the current 9,000 mile limit on ultra long range flights. 

Even if aircraft for these very long range flights were available I doubt they would be deployed here. Those flights require lots of high-margin passengers, something that we just don’t have much of.

Edited August 3, 2018 by kermit

[cltbwimob]

13 minutes ago, CLT2014 said:

AA is pretty weak to Asia compared to Delta and United, and is focusing their efforts to grow in the region from LAX and DFW.

In addition, CLT is probably the worst positioned AA hub, besides MIA, for flights to Asia. Passengers west of CLT can connect in DFW or LAX, while passengers north of North Carolina can better connect in Chicago. That leaves NC, SC, VA, GA, and FL making sense for routing through CLT. AA currently routes Florida connections over DFW from Asia.

I think it will come eventually, but the city needs to grow a bit more and our hub carrier needs to build out their West Coast network to Asia so they can then focus on CLT.

I'd like to see Japan Airlines with a flight to Tokyo.  I'd also like to see a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, although Doha is in the ME and that is for all intents and purposes a separate market even though it's technically a part of the Asian continent.  I love American and I am glad we have such a booming operation for them but I'd really like to see some international carriers start flying more of our international routes.  

I do not, however, see any flights to any part of Asia in the near future.  Charlotte is about 10 years from being able to support a flight to Asia... just like MLB.

Edited August 3, 2018 by cltbwimob

[CarolinaDaydreamin]

34 minutes ago, kermit said:

^ from a distance perspective the Northern Asia cities (Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul) are the only ones close enough to serve from CLT on relatively conventional aircraft. Cities further South (Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney) start to push the current 9,000 mile limit on ultra long range flights. 

Even if aircraft for these very long range flights were available I doubt they would be deployed here. Those flights require lots of high-margin passengers, something that we just don’t have much of.

Atlanta only has those 3 plus Shanghai to Asia and probably won't have additional locations anytime soon. 

[videtur quam contuor]

31 minutes ago, cltbwimob said:

 Charlotte is about 10 years from being able to support a flight to Asia... just like MLB.

Is CLT a Major League Airport?

[Trickbot]

6 hours ago, tarhoosier said:

Is CLT a Major League Airport?

I mean the 7th busiest in the world by plane movement.

Edited August 3, 2018 by Trickbot

[cltbwimob]

24 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

Is CLT a Major League Airport?

No...its AAA.  Even though it's bigger than many Major League Airports, Charlotte just isn't able to support a Major League Airport...give it about 10-15 years though.

[KJHburg]

Well here is my take on CLT Airport today and in the future.  The A gates in what I am calling the Locals Terminal as these airlines are direct to other hubs and not connecting passengers like our AA flights.  I think this new gate area looks fantastic and it reminds me of Hong Kong's new airport as the main gate areas are 2 stories like this one.   This section is for the local origination traffic and this is our terminal.  I only flown only 2 airlines in the last 5 years that being American and Southwest.    The other terminals like B and C undergoing their upgrades and that is fine since almost all of them are transferring and some of us locals flying on  AA.  To hear some of you talk we have the worst airport in the country.  I can think of many airports like LAX and DFW that are horrible layouts and even ATL you have to train transfers etc and I always found walking briskly just as fast (usually)  Houston IAH is huge and sprawling airport like ours.   Our airport amenities are top notch with food, shopping, pet areas, rocking chairs, piano players, etc.   The only thing we are missing in my opinion is an onsite hotel and rail transit uptown.  Otherwise I like things like free  wifi which we have had at CLT for years and years compared to others.   I think our airport has great local flavor with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s bar, Bojangles, local craft brews etc.  

Here are my photos of the new A terminal today for I had to drop something off at the airport.   It was pouring down rain when I was at the airport midday today so not as many from the outside on the new arrivals and departure roads.    Several new shops featured and the new map is in the new A terminal.  Starting with the 4th photo are the new A terminal gates.  (and that art work is mesmerizing)   Towards the last photos is the B terminal under renovation, the main food court area, the new air traffic control tower, and the new roadways out front.  

and one more thing Delta is still flying out of the old A gates anyone know why?