CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Starting Tuesday, All American Airlines ticket counters located east of Checkpoint "C" will temporarily move as construction continues at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
From July 9-21, some ticket counters will be relocated outside "Door 2" at Departures. Airport officials say the canopy covers the area and will provide shelter from the elements. They will also have fans and lighting to make it more comfortable.
There will also be an additional four kiosks available for travelers.
The temporary relocation is to allow for construction on the continued expansion of the terminal's lobby.
For some, all of the construction is making navigating the airport a challenge.
“For me sometimes I come in and things have changed and it’s hard to find what I need to find, where I need to be and where to find my luggage,” Wanda Greer, a Hudson, NC resident, said. “Sometimes the marking is not clear enough.”
In a statement, Charlotte Douglas officials said in part:
"The Airport focuses on providing a quality customer experience and we collaborate with our airline partners to mitigate construction impacts. We understand construction is inconvenient and can be frustrating for passengers. This construction is a necessity as we build an airport of the future."
Officials add the terminal lobby expansion which is currently in Phase 5 of 6, is the largest and most complex project in the airport’s history. Its completion date is set for 2025.
City Councilman Ed Driggs is the Transportation, Planning and Development Committee Chair. The committee has oversight of the airport’s budget. It also reviews and recommends policies to promote mobility and planned growth.
Driggs said he sympathizes with travelers.
“We are making a huge investment in improving the airport. It's a total transformation and it has to be done while the airport remains in operation,” Driggs said. “We will have a magnificent airport when we have gotten through this. And it's just regrettable that it's impossible to do those things and not disrupt the flow of the current traffic.”
The Charlotte Douglas airport is also in the middle of its busiest summer travel season in history, welcoming about 35-thousand originating travelers each day. It’s a 12 percent increase from last year’s record-breaking numbers.
Airport officials are asking travelers to arrive extra early during this time; at least 2 ½ hours early for domestic flights and 3 ½ hours early for international flights.
For now, travelers are asked to pack some patience.
“It seems like it’s been going on for a long, long time,” Greer said. “I wish they would get it done.”
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