CLT's $2.1 Billion Airline Deal Could Get a Council Vote Oct. 26: What CLT Beyond Would Build
A proposed 10.5 year lease with American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United would fund a bigger Concourse C and a central tunnel. Here is what is in it and when council could vote.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its main airlines have a proposed new lease that would fund about $2.1 billion in airport projects, including a bigger Concourse C and a central tunnel from the main terminal. City Council could vote on it as soon as Oct. 26.
Here is what is in the deal, what it means for people who fly out of CLT, and what is still unknown.
What the agreement is
The Airline Use and Lease Agreement is the master contract that sets how airlines rent and pay for space at CLT, from gates and ticket counters to runways and the baggage system. The current one took effect July 1, 2016 and was set to expire June 30, 2026. The airport and airlines extended it to keep negotiating. (CLT press release)
The signatory airlines are American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United. Any other commercial airline can choose to sign on. (CLT press release)
According to the airport's Oct. 12 presentation to City Council, the new agreement would: (council presentation)
- Run for a 10.5 year base term starting Jan. 1, 2027, with a possible five year extension.
- Support an estimated $2.1 billion capital program.
- Bring in an estimated $3 billion in net airline rents, fees, and charges over the base term.
- Change the revenue share to 55 percent for the airport and 45 percent for the signatory airlines.
- Set higher targets for how much airlines use their gates. CLT has 123 gates, including 17 common use gates that any airline can be assigned.
What CLT Beyond would build
The airport calls the program CLT Beyond. The council presentation lists these key projects: (council presentation)
- Concourse C expansion
- A central tunnel
- South ramp expansion
- Planning and design for a future international concourse
- Planning and design for an atrium expansion
The airport's press release adds renovations to the international arrivals area, airfield work to support the fourth parallel runway, and electrical and other infrastructure upgrades. It describes the tunnel as a passenger link from the main terminal to the expanded Concourse C. (CLT press release)
No official document we found gives the number of new gates, the cost of each project, or construction start and finish dates. Expect those details to come later, if the lease is approved.
The council vote
The presentation says staff could bring the agreement to council "as soon as October 26, 2026," and that the draft agreement was going to council members on Oct. 13. (council presentation, agenda item)
At Monday's meeting, a 6 to 5 council majority voted to push the decision to late November, and Mayor Rob Harrington vetoed that motion, which keeps the original roughly two week timeline, WFAE reported. Members who backed the delay wanted better pay and conditions for airport contract workers. (WFAE) The city's own presentation notes that state law bars it from regulating contractors' wages and working conditions, and federal law bars it from regulating fares, routes, or service. (council presentation) Official minutes for the meeting had not been posted when we checked.
What it means if you fly out of CLT
Nothing changes at the gate right away. The new lease would not start until Jan. 1, 2027, and the big projects would take years.
Work already underway is what travelers will notice first. The airport has said Concourse E renovations, including new flooring, gate renumbering, signs, and moving walkways, are due to finish in March 2027, and the $1 billion fourth parallel runway is scheduled to open in fall 2027. (CLT 2026 outlook)
To watch the vote, check the city's council meeting calendar for the Oct. 26 agenda once it posts.
Last verified October 13, 2026.
