Charlotte Douglas International Airport has always played a huge part in attracting Fortune 500 companies as well as individuals whose business requires them to fly direct and often to serve their clients. In fact, the Charlotte Chamber and Charlotte Center City Partners maintain that our airport is the top asset to our region.

In the September issue of Airport Business Magazine, Michael Gallis and Holland Young spoke about the illustrious past and what the future has to hold for the Charlotte region and the impact that the airport may have on that future. Both the airport and the Charlotte region have come a long way since 1936 when the Charlotte Douglas International Airport first opened.

We now have 91 passenger gates and our airport is dedicated to keeping costs for the airlines as low as possible.  The new runway, being positioned 4,300 feet from the center runway, will allow all the infrastructure needed to bring rail, air and truck transport together as one.  We are poised to not only be a passenger hub but a freight hub as well.

What a combination …  A one two PUNCH! The creation of the new runway and railroad system has always been a part of the plan and now they are finally becoming a reality. With the globalization and shifting trade patterns, Charlotte is truly filling its role in the U.S. and in the global network and looks to become stronger and more influential moving forward.

As we look to the future, the Charlotte region aims to utilize our airport to help position us as the fourth major logistics hub on the East Coast of North America (we will keep company with Miami, Atlanta and New York). The combination of the international airport with railroad access to three major seaports (Savannah, Charleston, and Roanoke) and close proximity to two Interstates help make Charlotte a transportation force to be reckoned with!

35 million annual passengers, 509,000 aircraft operations and 120,000 tons of air cargo and we have only just begun.  Another proud story that has to be told!

By Pat Riley