Dallas Airport: A Sprawling Transportation Hub

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is huge. At 17,207 acres (6,963 hectares; 27 square miles), it's larger than the island of Manhattan and is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, after Denver International Airport. When it first opened in 1974, it was the largest airport ever built by land area. The airport is so big that it spills across portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties and includes parts of the cities of Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell. It has its own post office ZIP code, its own police force, and even fire protection and emergency medical services. The airport is a major hub for American Airlines and serves more than 73 million customers every year, making it one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is bigger than the island of Manhattan

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a behemoth in the aviation industry, not just in terms of passenger traffic but also in sheer size. Spanning across 17,183 acres or 26.9 square miles, it is a sprawling complex that surpasses the size of the island of Manhattan. Its vast expanse is utilised by seven runways, totalling 80,400 feet, or over 15 miles, in length.

The airport's construction was a response to the Civil Aeronautics Board's warning in 1964, urging Dallas and Fort Worth to improve their air facilities to accommodate the jet-age traffic of the upcoming decades. After years of debate, the two cities agreed to collaborate on a joint project, resulting in the birth of DFW. The airport's location midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, in a mostly undeveloped area, made land acquisition relatively inexpensive, contributing to its massive scale.

The airport's size is so significant that it operates as two separate airports, with east and west sides, each having its own control towers. This unique setup allows for efficient handling of the high traffic volume, with the ability to utilise multiple runways simultaneously for landings and departures. The layout is designed to facilitate seamless operations, even during peak times, and the lengthy taxi times are a small trade-off for the airport's exceptional capacity.

DFW's sheer magnitude has earned it accolades, including being the world's second-busiest airport and the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, only surpassed by Denver International Airport. The airport's scale is a testament to its status as the largest airport in Texas's most populated metropolitan area, where everything is, indeed, bigger.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's vast expanse, surpassing that of Manhattan, is a testament to its role as a pivotal aviation hub, catering to the needs of one of the most populous metropolitan areas in Texas. Its size enables efficient operations, exceptional capacity, and the ability to accommodate future growth, solidifying its position as one of the world's premier airports.

The airport has its own ZIP code, police, fire protection and emergency medical services

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a major hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered nearby. The airport is located between Dallas and Fort Worth and includes parts of Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell.

The airport is so big that it has its own ZIP code, 75261, and its own United States Postal Service city designation, "DFW Airport, TX". This is in addition to its own police force, fire protection services, and emergency medical services.

The airport covers more than 26.9 square miles (some sources state 30 square miles or 78 square kilometres) and is larger than the island of Manhattan. It is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, after Denver International Airport.

The airport's size and complexity can lead to lengthy taxi times for aircraft, and its vastness means that it operates as two separate airports, with the east and west sides each having their own tower controllers.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a significant economic generator, producing over $37 billion in economic impact annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

It is the largest hub for American Airlines

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. DFW covers more than 26.9 square miles and is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, after Denver International Airport.

DFW is located roughly halfway between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and includes portions of Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell. The airport has its own post office ZIP code, 75261, and United States Postal Service city designation ("DFW Airport, TX"). It also has its own police, fire protection, and emergency medical services.

DFW is one of the world's busiest airports, serving more than 73 million customers annually and offering flights to 256 destinations worldwide. The airport has five terminals, with plans to construct a sixth terminal, and features the DFW Skylink, an automated people mover system that connects all the terminals using five miles of elevated tracks.

The construction of DFW began in 1969 as a joint project between Dallas and Fort Worth to build a regional airport that would accommodate jet-age traffic into the 21st century. When it officially opened in 1974, DFW was the largest airport in the world by land area and featured the first automated people mover system to transport passengers between its four original terminals.

The airport covers 17,183 acres or 26.9 square miles

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a sprawling aviation hub. Covering 17,183 acres or 26.9 square miles, it is larger than the island of Manhattan. To put it into perspective, this equates to roughly 6,963 hectares or 30 square kilometres. When it first opened in 1974, it was the largest airport ever constructed in terms of land area. Although this record has since been surpassed, it remains one of the world's largest airports by land area, second only to Denver International Airport in the United States.

The airport's vast expanse is not without purpose. Its size enables efficient handling of a high volume of air traffic. The runways are adequately spaced to facilitate visual and instrument approaches to all three runways simultaneously, without the need for PRM procedures. This capacity for parallel approaches sets DFW apart, with only a few other airports worldwide offering similar capabilities. The airport's sheer size also means it has its own post office ZIP code, "75261", and a United States Postal Service city designation, "DFW Airport, TX".

The airport's layout is designed to accommodate a large number of terminals and efficient passenger movement. The DFW Skylink, an elevated train system, connects all terminals and enables passengers to reach their gates without lengthy walks or the need to re-clear security. This bidirectional train system has two stops at each of the airport's five current terminals, making it convenient for passengers to navigate the large airport with ease.

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's size is a testament to its importance as a major aviation hub, serving a large metropolitan area and contributing significantly to the region's economy. Its scale and functionality have made it one of the world's busiest airports, handling a significant volume of passenger and cargo traffic each year.

It is one of the world's three busiest airports

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the world's three busiest airports. In 2024, it was ranked fifth in the world's busiest airports, serving over 51 million passengers. However, in 2023, it was ranked third, serving nearly 82 million passengers, a record for the facility. It is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States, covering 26.89 square miles (69.63 square kilometres).

DFW Airport is the primary international airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is located roughly halfway between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and includes portions of Grapevine, Irving, Euless, and Coppell. The airport has five terminals and 174 gates, designed in a half-circle shape to minimise the distance between a passenger's car and plane and reduce traffic on main airport roads.

DFW Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. It offers service to 254 destinations, including 191 domestic and 63 international destinations. It is also the largest carbon-neutral airport in the world and the first in North America to achieve this status.

The airport first opened in 1974 and has since undergone several expansions and improvements, including the addition of new terminals and runways. It is currently undergoing a series of expansion projects expected to last until 2028, including the construction of Terminal F and the renovation of existing terminals.

Frequently asked questions