To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is showing no sign of slowing its growth while also keeping its passengers happy. That was the message Tuesday night as airport leaders updated the city council on the US Airways hub’s success to date in 2010 – and their goals flying ahead.

After serving 34 million passengers in the last year, Charlotte-Douglas got another big arrival in 2010 – the “Best Airport” award by the International Air Transport Association.

“I think really it personifies what we’re about – our goals,” Charlotte-Douglas Aviation Director Jerry Orr said.

The airport now is 11th in the nation in total passengers and 8th in the number of arrivals and departures.

“The first column is the cost to the airlines to operate at Charlotte last year. It’s around a dollar, the cheapest of any major airport in the world,” Orr said.

Orr said the low costs will ensure the airport’s revenues wouldn’t drop off – should its predominant carrier ever take off.

“We’re quite sure if US Airways should ever decide they didn’t want to be here, that someone else would be here very quickly,” Orr said.

The airport also gained added flexibility in recent months – when it opened its third parallel runway.

“The point of building this runway was to cut delay costs for the airlines,” Orr said.

Orr said moving forward – the airport will replace the current two story parking deck with a seven story structure, and could consider adding another terminal or two at a later time.
 
Airport leaders say the facility generates $10 billion a year in economic impact.