Charlotte City Council approved a 10.5-year lease for Charlotte Douglas International Airport during a Monday night meeting in uptown, meeting heavy opposition from airport workers and support from many business leaders.

The Airline Use and Lease Agreement, starting Jan. 1, includes Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United, and American Airlines — the airport’s dominant carrier, accounting for roughly 90% of all flights. It is projected to generate $3 billion in rent at the seventh-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings.

“This agreement reflects a win for the community as it maintains CLT as an economic engine of the Carolinas, generating $40 billion in economic impact and over 184,000 jobs annually,” stated Haley Gentry, chief executive officer at CLT, in a news release. “The AULA is a partnership that helps ensure investments that position CLT for the future.”

$2.1 billion capital plan and business backing

A central component of the lease is “CLT Beyond,” a $2.1 billion capital program.…