CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In just a few months, Concourse A at Charlotte Douglas Airport will be home to nine new gates.
The addition will accommodate expanding air service and replace several existing gates. The structure itself is basically finished, and the entire project is about 70% complete.
The expansion is 230,000 square feet of space that cost $200 million. It’s a hefty price tag, but Deputy Aviation Director Jack Christine said it will have a minimal effect on the cost of a ticket for travelers.
“This building is funded through a number of different sources, the largest of which is passenger facility charge revenues, which is the $3 fee that is charged when you book your ticket,” Christine said.
United, Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier are just a few airlines you will see in the expansion. Inside the concourse, there will be several new refreshment options.
“We’re excited to offer some new venues such as Smashburger,” Christine said. “There will also be a bar.”
The bar will be home to NoDa Brewing Company, and for the early morning travelers, there will be two Starbucks.
This may seem like a small detail, but if you fly often, you probably know how difficult it can be to find an open power outlet. That won’t be a problem in Concourse A. Each seat will be equipped with its own plug.
“All those different kinds of things people want to charge before they get on the airplane,” Christine said. “We’ll at least give you an opportunity to charge a couple of them before you get on.”
The technology in the expansion can even be found in the windows. The airport will be able to control how much tint is applied to each of the 370 glass panes.
“It will gradually dim or brighten depending on where the sun is in the sky,” Christine said.
The project is expected to be finished sometime in June, then the airlines will move. The Concourse A expansion will be fully operational sometime in late June or early July.