Charlotte airport gears up for 2027 with by introducing nation's first 'smart runway'

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is preparing for a new runway project aimed at boosting capacity and resilience—scheduled to begin in fall 2027. The airport says the Fourth Parallel Runway is a $1 billion initiative approved in 2023, and it will be 10,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. CLT is currently the seventh-busiest airport in the world, with three runways and more than 50,000 takeoffs and landings each year; the fourth runway would add nearly 25% more capacity by running parallel to existing runways. A “smart runway” concept will embed sensors in concrete to create a digital twin with real-time measurements of displacement, stress, strain, moisture, and temperature, in partnership with UNC Charlotte’s Aviation Research Institute.