Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is set to open the east side of its terminal lobby expansion by the end of the month, and it will do so with a familiar face inside.
CLT recently unveiled the bronze statue of Queen Charlotte, which claimed its rightful place in the airport after a couple of moves and a period of restoration. The decades-old statue will now be the first thing arriving passengers see as they approach baggage claim.
The statue’s reveal coincides with the updates to the east side of the terminal lobby, which will open by the end of the month. The expansion will provide approximately 90,000 square feet of additional circulation space and access to the east subterranean walkway as Charlotte Douglas International Airport continues its $608 million signature project.
In addition, TSA’s Checkpoint 1 will open by the end of the month with eight screening lanes, including six automatic screening lanes.
The expansion is part of Destination CLT, the Airport’s $4 billion capital investment program that includes concourse renovations and expansion of CLT’s roadways, curb front, the airfield and terminal.
The next phase includes renovating the remainder of the original lobby, finishing the 146,000-square-foot canopy that will protect people from bad weather while being dropped off in front of the terminal, as well as overhead and subterranean walkways so visitors can bypass airport traffic.
Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte’s Kitchen, the Airport’s first pre-security sit-down dining option, debuted Oct. 13 near the sculpture. It offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as wine, beer and cocktails.
