Regional NewsFriday, November 6
Charlotte City Council votes Monday on a $2.1 billion airport lease
The Daily Huntersville team
If you care how Charlotte Douglas grows, Monday matters. City Council is set to vote on an airline lease that would pay for more than $2.1 billion in upgrades, and business leaders made their case Thursday.
The airport lease vote by the numbers
- $2.1 billion
- in airport upgrades if the lease passes
- $40 billion
- in annual economic impact, per regional data
- 185,000
- jobs supported, nearly, per regional data
Sources: WBTV, WCCB Charlotte
- Vote: Charlotte City Council, Mon., Nov. 9
- Term: 10½ years, with an option for five more
- Projects: Concourse C expansion, new gates, a tunnel
- Airlines would pay more in rent and fees
Business leaders say the deal keeps Charlotte an American Airlines hub. A union for contracted workers, such as those who push wheelchairs and clean planes, wants more protections and better pay. Business leaders say wages aren't part of the lease.
Business leaders, workers and Councilman Graham see the lease differently
| Who | Their view |
|---|---|
| Business leaders | Sign the lease; keep wages separate |
| Contracted-worker union | Wants more protections and better pay |
| Malcolm Graham | Council can extend the lease and fight for workers |
Sources: WBTV, WCCB Charlotte
“It's not either-or that we extend the lease or fight for workers.”
The airport's reach crosses state lines, said Mitch Miller of York County Economic Development. He pointed to Swiss company Octapharma's first U.S. manufacturing facility, a $1.5 billion investment with more than 1,500 jobs in York County.
Sources: WBTV, WCCB Charlotte