Charlotte leaders on new airport contract: It’s ‘a win’

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Charlotte City Council voted Nov. 9, 2026, to a 10 1/2-year airport use and lease agreement with five airline tenants at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The contract goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The city of Charlotte has reached terms with airlines on their use of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

City Council signed off Monday on a 10 1/2-year use and lease agreement, which in addition to American Airlines – which controls 90% of airline traffic in Charlotte – includes Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United. The pact starts Jan. 1, 2027.  

The contract determines assignment of property rights, operations, maintenance and repair obligations, and the financial commitments.

“This agreement reflects a win for the community as it maintains CLT as an economic engine of the Carolinas, generating $40 billion in economic impact and over 184,000 jobs annually,” airport chief executive officer Haley Gentry said in a statement. “The AULA is a partnership that helps ensure investments that position CLT for the future.” 

The contract:  

• Increases the number of city-managed gates from 10 to 17, while establishing higher gate utilization targets to promote more efficient use of airport facilities. 

• Includes a $2.1 billion estimated capital development program, CLT Beyond, an initiative of nearly a dozen projects across the terminal, airfield and airport campus. It will be funded through airport revenue bonds, passenger facility charges and federal grants. 

• $3 billion estimated net airline rents, fees and charges payable to the airport.

• A 55% revenue share to the airport in exchange for airline operations investment at Charlotte Douglas and credit protections including debt service coverage requirements.     
American officials contend the deal will continue airport growth through capital investment as well as connect Charlotte to more than 180 destinations across 27 countries. 

“Our commitment to Charlotte is unwavering and what we’ve built here reflects sustained investment, strong partnerships and the dedication of thousands of team members who power one of the world’s largest hub operations,” Ralph Lopez Massas, American’s senior vice president of Charlotte Douglas operations. “We’re investing in our team, our operation and our customers in ways that will strengthen CLT and create opportunity across the communities we serve well into the future.”

Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, which represents contract workers at the Charlotte Douglas, criticized the deal as a giveaway to corporate interests at the expense of passengers and lower-wage employees. American and its subsidiaries employ approximately 16,500 people in Charlotte, making it one of the region’s largest employers. The union said the contract will ensure higher fares for travelers as well as leave service workers to endure unsafe job conditions, staffing shortages and lower wages.

“We showed up in good faith to be heard, only to be shown billionaires and corporations would once again be the only winners today,” the union said in a statement. “We collectively walked out because we couldn’t bear to have corporate interests prioritized over constituents once again, knowing full well that Charlotteans will have to pay the collective price for the time the city didn’t take today.” 
 

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