Is it necessary to expand the airport of
Charlotte to win new companies?
Charlotte Douglas International is the
busiest American airport without a direct flight to Asia.
“If we could get that direct flight to
Shanghai, I think that would open the floodgates for new companies,” says Jeff
Edge, Senior Vice President of Economic Development at the Charlotte Chamber.
American airports recently added seasonal
service from Charlotte to Barcelona, Lisbon, Manchester and Brussels, but at
this time limits direct Asian service to Dallas- Fort Worth, Los Angeles and
Chicago. The recent additions helped boost international business at CLT 5% for
the year. International flights at Charlotte Douglas account for about 1% of
the almost 44 million passengers coming through its gates each year. Because of
that adding direct flights to Asia from Charlotte would require more than just
more concourse space. CLT's longest runway is 10,000 feet, shorter than the
12,000 feet generally needed for Asian service from the Southeast. The airport
master plan under development is expected to include plans for a fourth runway
of 12,000 feet to handle trans-Pacific aircraft.
When 12 international flights arrive at the
same time, the airport of Charlotte would have a problem. Therefore Charlotte
Douglas spent $ 2 million on 24 automated passport- control kiosks that speed
U.S. citizens through the primary Federal Inspection Service area after
international flights.
To win new companies, an expansion of the
airport of Charlotte is necessary. International set up new manufacturing facilities
or offices, where they can get business done quickly; versus sitting in Atlanta
for instance and waiting three hours for a connecting flight. They may have lost
a day versus getting a full day of business in. It's a cost savings businesses
are looking for.
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