Charlotte Douglas International Airport is adding a wave of new nonstop flights in 2026, ranging from small regional airports to a major new international link. The headline addition arrives March 20, when Etihad Airways launches nonstop service between Charlotte and Abu Dhabi, giving the Carolinas a direct connection to the Gulf region.
Etihad plans to fly the route four times a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Travelers will also benefit from U.S. Customs preclearance in Abu Dhabi, which can speed up arrival back in the United States.
Several new regional routes start even sooner. American Airlines will add daily service from Charlotte to Shenandoah Valley Airport in Weyers Cave, Virginia, beginning Feb. 3. Daily flights to Lewisburg, West Virginia, follow Feb. 10, and daily year-round service to Vero Beach, Florida, starts Feb. 12. American also plans daily year-round flights to Columbia, Missouri, starting June 4.
Low-cost and niche carriers are expanding, too. Contour Airlines will begin Charlotte-to-Owensboro, Kentucky, service on Feb. 26. Frontier Airlines will add nonstop flights from Charlotte to Cancun on March 6, scheduled three times per week.
For Charlotte travelers, the changes mean more one-stop-free options for smaller markets, plus a new long-haul gateway for international connections. They also add more competition on popular leisure routes, which could improve choices and pricing as the year ramps up.
