Fort Worth Airport: A Sprawling Transport Hub

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a massive airport located roughly halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. The airport spans 17,207 acres (6,963 hectares; 27 square miles), making it the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, after Denver International Airport. It has five terminals and 174 gates, designed in a half-circle shape to minimize the distance between gates and parking lots. The DFW Skylink train system allows passengers to quickly travel between gates within the secured area of the airport. With a high number of passengers and a large economic impact, DFW is a significant airport in the North Texas region.

The airport is 30-60 minutes from downtown Fort Worth or Dallas

The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located roughly halfway between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The airport is about 25 miles from Fort Worth and is 30 to 60 minutes from downtown Fort Worth or Dallas.

There are several transport options available to reach downtown Fort Worth or Dallas from the airport. The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a direct train route that takes 25 minutes to reach downtown Fort Worth from the airport. The train runs every 30 minutes and costs $2.50 for a one-way ticket. The TEXRail is another option, which takes 50 minutes to reach the central station and costs $2.50 one-way. The TEXRail runs every 30 minutes and is a good option for late arrivals as it operates 7 days a week.

If you prefer to travel by road, there is the option of taking a shuttle to Centreport station and then catching a train to downtown Fort Worth. Alternatively, you can take a cab, with a flat rate of $43 one-way. For those looking to rent a car, it may be cheaper to do so off-site, in locations such as Irving or Grapevine.

The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is a major hub for air travel, serving as the largest hub for American Airlines. The airport offers flights to 254 destinations, including 191 domestic and 63 international locations. With five terminals and 174 gates, the airport is designed to minimise the distance between passengers' cars and planes, as well as to reduce traffic on main airport roads.

It is the second-largest airport by land area in the US

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States. Covering 17,207 acres (6,963 hectares; 27 square miles), it is larger than the island of Manhattan. The airport is located roughly halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, with portions of the airport spilling across Dallas and Tarrant counties. The cities of Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell also fall within its boundaries.

The airport's size can be attributed to its history and the need to accommodate the growing aviation demands of the region. Initially, Dallas and Fort Worth each had their own airports, Love Field and Meacham Field, respectively. However, in the 1940s, it became apparent that these airports may not be adequate for the larger jet aircraft that would soon be in use. After years of controversy and competition between the two cities, they finally agreed in 1965 to build a joint regional airport to accommodate the increasing air traffic and ensure North Texas remained a viable aviation hub.

The original plans for the Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport, which opened in 1974, called for an even larger airport, occupying 17,500 acres of prairie land. This would have made it the largest airport in the world at the time of its construction. The airport's design has been recognised as one of the world's great engineering wonders, with semicircular terminals minimising distances between parking and aircraft, and an innovative underground fuel delivery system.

Today, DFW Airport continues to be a significant aviation hub, serving 254 destinations or more (including 191 domestic and 63 international) with 28 passenger airlines as of April 2023. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which has a presence in every terminal. The airport also boasts an extensive ground transportation network, including three rail systems and a dedicated rental car facility, ensuring efficient connections to the surrounding region.

It has five terminals and 174 gates

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a large airport that serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, covering 17,207 acres (6,963 hectares; 27 square miles).

The airport has five terminals and 174 gates, designed in a half-circle shape. This design minimises the distance between a passenger's car and the plane and helps to reduce traffic on the main airport roads. The semicircular design also provides additional room for parking in the middle of each semicircle. The DFW Skylink automated people mover system allows passengers to quickly travel between gates inside the secured area of the airport, with an average travel time of seven minutes.

Terminals A, B, and E have undergone modernisation, which included improvements such as new gates, streamlined security checkpoints, revamped baggage handling and delivery, and expanded international arrival gates into Terminal B. Terminal D is the primary international terminal, with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities to process arriving international passengers and a gate capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. American Airlines has a presence in every terminal, while other domestic airlines and some Canadian airlines operate out of Terminal E, and overseas carriers operate out of Terminal D.

The airport is served by three rail systems: DART light rail, TEXRail, and the Trinity Railway Express. These rail systems provide direct connections to Dallas and Fort Worth, with the DART light rail providing service to the Orange Line and TEXRail offering a commuter rail service between the airport and downtown Fort Worth.

It is the world's second-busiest airport by passenger traffic

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. In 2021, it was ranked second with 62,465,756 passengers, only surpassed by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In 2022, approximately 73 million passengers passed through the five terminals at DFW, an increase attributed to a growing population in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, an increase in foreign travellers, a streamlined customs process, and increased international business, especially to Mexico.

DFW Airport offers an impressive range of services, with flights to 254 destinations, including 191 domestic and 63 international locations. Every major city in the contiguous United States is accessible within four hours or less. The airport also boasts an extensive ground transportation network, including three rail systems: DART light rail, TEXRail, and the Trinity Railway Express. Additionally, DFW has a dedicated rental car facility, located at the south end of the airport with shuttle buses connecting to all terminals.

The airport's design is notable for its semicircular terminals, which efficiently minimise the distance between a passenger's car and their plane while reducing traffic congestion on the main airport roads. The DFW Skylink, an automated people mover system, further enhances intra-airport mobility, allowing passengers to swiftly travel between gates within the secured area, with an average travel time of just seven minutes.

The airport's vast size, covering 17,207 acres (6,963 hectares or 27 square miles), surpasses even the island of Manhattan. Its scale is so significant that it has earned its own post office ZIP code, "75261", and a United States Postal Service city designation as "DFW Airport, TX". Additionally, DFW has its own police force, fire protection services, and emergency medical services, catering to the needs of its large and busy premises.

It has its own police, fire protection, and emergency services

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements and the second-busiest by passenger traffic. With five terminals, 174 gates, and over 70 million passengers per year, the airport has its own dedicated police, fire protection, and emergency services.

The DFW Airport Police Service takes complaints seriously and fully investigates each one received. Compliments about the police are also welcomed and shared with the respective employee. False complaints against law enforcement officers are considered a violation of the Texas Penal Code, Section 37.02. The DFW Police Department can be reached via phone or mail for complaints, compliments, or emergencies.

The DFW Airport Fire Department provides fire prevention, aircraft rescue, and emergency medical services. The department has a state-of-the-art Fire Training and Research Centre (FTRC), which is the world's fastest-growing online, distance learning, and research facility for firefighters, serving over 37,000 students globally. The fire department has over 200 officers dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of public safety.

Billing and record services for medical emergencies occurring within the airport are provided by Intermedix Technologies, Inc. The airport also has a dedicated emergency number (911) for emergencies on airport property.

Frequently asked questions