Planes, trains, automobiles: Holiday travel taking off

CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Approximately 2.3 North Carolina residents willi travel at least 50 mile from home between Nov. 25-Dec. 1, with Charlotte Douglas International Airport expecting 1.9 million travelers between Nov. 20-Dec. 2.

It’s the holiday season, and that means travel.

AAA Carolinas anticipates another record for Thanksgiving holiday travel with approximately 2.3 million North Carolinians traveling at least 50 miles from home between Nov. 25-Dec. 1. The agency anticipates 2.1 million will travel by car, another 146,000 will fly to destinations and 43,500 individuals who will use other modes of transit like buses or trains.

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, it’s the first Thanksgiving since the completion of a $608-million terminal lobby expansion that provides more smoother entry to the airport, and more security checkpoints with additional lanes. Airport officials predict 1.9 million passengers between Nov. 20-Dec. 2 — 10% less than last year’s record-setting period. Nearly 430,000 travelers are anticipated to move through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints during that span, or 2.5% less than 2024.

The busiest days are expected to be Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, with each day projected top 83,000 departing passengers, with Nov. 30 predicted to tally more than 178,000 total travelers. Overall, more than 9,000 aircraft departures are scheduled over the three-day period. American Airlines and its regional partners will operate 80,759 scheduled flights across its network during Thanksgiving week.

Flyers are encouraged to plan in advance regarding airport parking reservations. Passengers should reserve parking online in advance at parkCLT.com or the airport’s app and arrive at their parking spot at least 30 minutes before arrival time. 

Of 25,000 parking spots at Charlotte Douglas, 15,000 can be booked online.

To ensure a smooth departure, airport officials suggest travelers arrive at the terminal at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international trip.

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