Charlotte Douglas International Airport will see a wave of travelers this winter holiday season. From Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, roughly 2.75 million people will move through its terminals, a 6% increase from last year. The airport will manage about 25,000 flights during the 17-day period, showing an 8% jump from 2023. The busiest days are expected to be Dec. 20, 26, and 27.

Each day will bring between 60,000 and 80,000 connecting passengers, while local travelers will number 14,000 to 15,000 during the busiest times. These numbers are up from last December’s total of 33,000 local and 100,000 connecting travelers.

To help with the crowds, the airport added three inner road lanes and installed two pedestrian bridges. Workers wearing bright yellow vests will help guide passengers through the busy terminals.  A new traffic plan moves all vehicles to the inner three departure lanes. Buses now run along the lower level. Officials recommend arriving 2 hours early for domestic flights, 3 for international.

Thanksgiving brought in 990,000 passengers, beating last year’s record by 4%. Winter holiday numbers are expected to show even more growth in Charlotte’s air traffic. “We knew Thanksgiving was going to be busy and we were ready,” said CLT Chief Operating Officer Jerome Woodard.

With parking now cashless, drivers need to use credit cards at Hourly and Daily lot kiosks or reserve spaces online. Long-Term parking costs $7 per day, while the Hourly Deck charges $20 daily. Parking in the Hourly Deck is free for the first hour. Book your spot early — spaces fill up quickly during peak times.