The Sky is falling, and so are the airfares in Charlotte!  So fast in fact, that the average fare declined the biggest amount in the year 2006.  In 2000, CLT was the highest in the country and in 2004 it was the among the nation's eighth most expensive.  So you've come a long way baby! 

These stats come from 10% of tickets used by passengers across the country according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.  As a matter of fact, the fourth quarter took a 12% drop in airfare from just one year before!

So what brought all this on besides Charlotte being a hub of Business!  Well the other major airport in Greensboro's Piedmont-Triad International Airport, raised there rates, so more people started flying out of Charlotte.  Also the merger of US Airways-America West was a posititve factor.  Then what I really liked is when JetBlue started flying here, along with another discount airline AirTran Airways!

Soon we will be flying for $10.  Oh wait, that maybe happening back in Greensboro to Columbus, Ohio for a one-way ticket via Skybus Airlines.  Oh well, can't win them all, lets try and get a little competitive there CLT!!!

Keith "Baby-Face" Lutz

www.LovingCharlotte.com

Fly me to the moon, and chances are you will be taking it from Charlotte International Airport.  This is reported from the Charlotte Observer on April 26th.  The article stated that Charlotte is the nation's fastest growing airport in the nation!

With 1.7 million additional passengers (or a growth rate of 13 percent), Charlotte is leading the way for newcomers.  Now on the other hand, New York's JFK added 2.1 million passengers (a growth rate of only 11.2%), so that right there says more people are leaving NY faster than they are arriving!  They must be going to Florida, and in a few years will become "Half-Backs".  Obviously I am just kidding, this is just showing how many people are flying (not leaving!)

So what is Charlotte Airport doing about all this growth?

 - Adding more flights, especially to Florida, Phoenix and Las Vegas

 - a new 9,000 foot Runway

 - six new gates (spring)

 - two new gates (summer)

 - 12 expanded gates (Fall)

 - more garage spaces

Cheers,

Keith

www.LovingCharlotte.com