Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The busiest airport in North Carolina is located on the outskirts of Charlotte, the state’s largest city. Each year more than 39 million passenger fly into Charlotte, mainly from domestic destinations. The carriers that fly into Charlotte include Air Canada, AirTran, American, Delta, JetBlue, Lufthansa, United, and US Airways. US Airways handles the majority of scheduled flights. The busiest domestic route is to Atlanta, followed by New York, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and Orlando. Cancun (Mexico) is the busiest international route, followed by Montego Bay (Jamaica), Toronto (Canada), and Frankfurt (Germany).
There are five concourses inside the airport’s terminal, with over 90 eateries and retailers providing a full range of products. US Airways has several VIP Lounges scattered around the terminal, and other services like shoe shines and business tasks are available in most of the concourses. The airport also provides complimentary WiFi internet access throughout the facility.
All of the ground transportation options are found on the lower Baggage Claim area of the terminal. Three taxi companies operate at the airport, using meters to determine fares. An attendant is on site from 06:45 until midnight to assist passengers. Shuttle vans, limousines and Town Cars can be arranged beforehand by contacting the companies directly. Several Charlotte hotels provide courtesy shuttles for the guests or you can choose from the eight car rental firms on site to rent a vehicle. The airport is conveniently located right off Interstates 85 and 485.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
North Carolina’s second major airport covers the area around the capital Raleigh and the Research Triangle. More than nine million travelers fly into the airport at Raleigh every year via the 38 direct domestic and international routes. Air Canada, American, Bahamasair, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways are the carriers with regular service to the airport. Nearly all of the 352 daily flights are domestic, with Atlanta the busiest route followed by Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and Dallas.
The airport’s two terminals each contain a good selection of passenger amenities, with two dozen various eateries and over 20 shops. Other services include Xpres Spa, shoe shines, Travelex currency exchange, and airline VIP lounges. Free WiFi internet access is provided throughout the terminal as well. Many of the hotels located within the Research Triangle provide their own shuttles to pick up their guests. There are also taxis, limousines, and regional buses available. Eight major car hire firms are located just outside Baggage Claim as well. The airport is located just five miles from Raleigh just off Interstate 40.