We're thinking of relocating to North Carolina (not a unique topic) for retirement, and have visited both the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham area. We've flown into Charlotte when doing so. We want to take advantage of the early years of retirement and travel a good deal. Would appreciate your thoughts on the two main airports in those two-cities, for both domestic travel and international. Looks like Charlotte tends to have more direct / one-stop flights, while Raleigh-Durham has less non-stop and more two-stops flights. Prices vary. We're doing a lot of reading about the areas in addition to visiting, but haven't seen much on this topic. Any insight would be appreciated.

Charlotte is the second busiest hub for American Airlines. Rakish-Durham is not a hub for any airline.

So your instincts are correct. You'll have more flight options from Charlotte. Almost all world-wide major destinations will require multiple stops/connections if you fly from Raleigh-Durham.

If you plan on traveling a lot by Air, relocate to the Charlotte area.

Raleigh Durham spent a fortune on their airport back in the day to become an American hub. My daughter was fortunate enough to go to UNC at the time and graduated with enough American miles to go to Paris.

Alas, American dumped RDU for CLT. But the Triangle is still a nicer area to live in than Charlotte. In My Humble Opinion, of course.

Here is a list of the RDU non stop destinations. Not knowing exactly where you wish to fly the most my own tendency would be to recommend CLT as well.

https://www.rdu.com/airline-informat...-destinations/

I lived in NC for 50 years, and I lived in both Charlotte and Raleigh. I go back frequently. . I think Charlotte will have more direct flights to US and international cities. But you can't make a bad decision.

OK, I guess if direct flights are acceptable but I'd rather fly N/S myself.

What is N/S?

Charlotte is also the 5th busiest airport in the US which should give more flights.
It also is notoriously more expensive to fly in and out of but we now have Southwest which may have driven some fares down. I was amazed to find a $230 RT to Denver the other day!!
BIG expansion going on so they aren't counting on downsizing.

I have been flying in/out of RDU for decades. There is now a non-stop to Paris (Delta) as well as the non-stop to London (AA) - which just added lie flat seats in biz - finally!

I am retired and almost all my travel now is international (long haul usually on AA FF miles). If I don't use the AA flight to London I spend a weekend in DC or New York on the way over, taking Amtrak to DC or JetBlue to New York.

What is N/S? NON-STOP

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and observations. I did think of the JetBlue to NY for a day or two before flying out from JFK, but never thought of Amtrak to DC option. Good idea - helps to be retired and flexible !