CLT Thanksgiving traffic expected to dip 10%
American reins in growth at its No. 2 hub
The following article appeared in the Nov. 21, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Officials cite fewer connecting passengers and a nationwide slowdown in holiday demand
American Airlines accounts for about 90% of passengers at Charlotte’s airport. (Ledger file photo)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport expects a 10% decline in passenger traffic this Thanksgiving holiday, mainly due to reduced connecting traffic.
Airport officials project that roughly 1.9 million passengers will move through CLT between Nov. 20 and Dec. 2, down from 2.1 million last year.
At an airport press conference on Wednesday, Pascual Alvarez, American Airlines’ managing director of customer care at Charlotte, said hub carrier American would see a “slight reduction” in Charlotte passengers but did not specify a number. The airline carries about 90% of Charlotte traffic and all the connecting traffic.