Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) committed $290 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to assist with development of its new fourth runway.

The project broke ground in June 2023 and will allow the airport to expand flight capacity while reducing delays. The airport anticipates construction to be completed by the fall of 2027.

“The FAA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to ensuring the safest and most stress-free experience for travelers possible,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E. “This fourth runway delivers on both – not only for travelers in and out of Charlotte, but for those flying from the nearly 200 cities with routes to CLT.”

In addition to the fourth runway, the grant will also help fund the completion of north and south end-around taxiways and other airfield improvements to enhance safety and increase capacity. “We are thrilled to receive this notable investment from the FAA,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. “The funding will enable the airport to continue progress on this crucial and nationally significant infrastructure project, boosting capacity and operational efficiency.”

The new runway will have significant impact on capacity at the airport and systemwide, as well as other benefits:

Reduced delay at CLT

According to the city’s benefit-cost analysis, without this new runway, average aircraft delays will increase by 58 percent, or 12 minutes over the next 15 years.

Reduced delay system-wide

CLT is a major connecting hub and has the highest share of connecting passengers at any airport in the U.S. Constructing the fourth runway decreases the chance of delays at the airport that could create system-wide impacts for travelers.

Improved safety

Importantly, this project will improve safety by addressing a documented taxiway “hot spot,” or an area of increased risk of collision or runway incursion, by standardizing the airfield’s geometry.

The FAA is providing the funding commitment under a Letter of Intent, or LOI, which helps fund large-scale capacity projects with multiple years of committed AIP grants. LOI funding can be used for airport development projects that enhance capacity, both at the airport and systemwide.

An LOI establishes a future funding schedule for a term of years, in this case ten, during which the FAA reimburses the City for the government’s share of allowable project costs. The multiple years give an airport longer-term predictability than what could be achieved through the annual issuance of entitlement and discretionary grants. The disbursement of funding will start in Fiscal Year 2025 and end in Fiscal Year 2034.