Aviation Pros
Nick Sullivan
21 October 2026
The new lease would lock in a 10.5-year deal with the airport’s five biggest airlines and commit billions of dollars to capital improvements.
A draft airport lease agreement presented to the Charlotte City Council on Monday would lock in a 10.5-year deal with the airport’s five biggest airlines and commit billions of dollars to capital improvements.
A majority of the council was skeptical, however, about whether it could do more to support safety training and better workplace conditions without breaking state law.
The lease would take effect Jan. 1 for American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United airlines and would generate an estimated $3 billion in rent payments over its lifespan.
The tentative agreement would launch the $2.1 billion “CLT Beyond” program for renovations including a Concourse C expansion with a new passenger tunnel, renovations to the international arrivals area, airfield upgrades and planning for future expansions to the international gate facilities and the terminal atrium...
