Charlotte Douglas Ranks 6th Busiest Airport in the World for

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has moved up in the global rankings for airport activity.

According to preliminary data from Airports Council International (ACI), CLT ranked sixth in the world for aircraft operations in 2024, up one spot from the previous year. The airport also rose two spots to seventh in North America for total passenger volume.

CLT reported 596,583 takeoffs and landings in 2024, an 11% increase from 2023. That total placed it ahead of major airports including Los Angeles International, Shanghai Pudong, Istanbul, and Guangzhou.

CLT also set a new record for passengers, welcoming 58.8 million travelers in 2024. That’s a 10% increase from 2023’s total of 53.4 million. It was the airport’s fifth all-time passenger record in the last eight years.

International travel also increased. CLT served 2.4 million international passengers in 2024, up 13% from 2.1 million in 2023. The airport currently offers flights to 42 international destinations and is home to three foreign flag carriers.

CLT CEO Haley Gentry said the new rankings reflect the airport’s growth and the efforts of its staff, airline partners, and terminal teams. Final global rankings will be released later this year.

“This ranking reflects CLT’s operational strength, the power of the American Airlines hub, and the dedication of our employees, airlines and terminal partners,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. “Record-breaking traffic in 2024 made it an ‘all in’ year, and our team rose to the challenge. We’re proud to be among the world’s top airports and remain focused on building for the future.”