Charlotte City Council passes airport lease agreement 8-2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - American Airlines will be a fixture of Charlotte Douglas International Airport for at least a decade more after City Council passed a new airport lease agreement for the airline on Monday by an 8-2 margin.

The lease will have a base period of 10.5 years with an option for a five year extension.

Much of the friction during public comment and council remarks focused on balancing Charlotte’s long-term economic future by renewing the lease with advocating for the rights of workers who are contracted by American Airlines.

“As a city we have a responsibility to protect that asset and ensure it remains competitive. That’s why I support signing the airport lease agreement,” said District 1 Councilmember Dante Anderson. “We must protect Charlotte’s economic future by signing this agreement and we must protect the people who help build that future by continuing to fight for their rights.”

“The airport is our gateway to the world. It literally cements our local and regional economy. It’s the think that makes Charlotte go,” said District 2 Councilmember Malcolm Graham.

Supporters of the lease agreement include leaders, investors and companies across Charlotte’s healthcare, banking, real estate, technology, retail and transportation businesses.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance says the airport generates $40 billion per year and creates 185,000 jobs.

Business leaders say a long-term agreement will continue to benefit the area’s economic investment and job creation. Over $2 billion would flow into improvements for the airport as well.

The two votes against the agreement were from District 5 Councilmember J.D. Mazuera-Arias and District 4 Councilmember Renee Johnson.

“I did not motion to defer the lease because the support wasn’t there and deferring it would not change the outcome. We would be continuing to have the same conversation. However, I will not be voting for this today,” said Mazuera-Arias, who says he would’ve liked to use the airport as leverage for competition to lower flight prices for Charlotteans.

“I won’t be supporting the lease tonight either,” said Johnson. “We’ve asked airport leadership to sit down with the workers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.”

Most of the pushback on the agreement came from workers for Prospect and ABM, companies who help transport passengers and clean planes at the airport, and the unions that represent them.

Workers say they don’t take home livable wages, have suitable working conditions or sufficient job training. Multiple workers said they make $12.50 per hour and don’t have a designated break area in the airport.

City councilmembers say they have the power to focus on Charlotte’s business needs with the lease agreement, but cannot enact change for those workers’ wages and working conditions.

“To American Airlines, I’d ask you to be better, be a member of this community and treat us more than just a market,” said District 6 Councilmember Lisa Owens. “I would ask you to appreciate that $12.50 an hour plus tips is not livable.”