Dallas Airports: A Comprehensive Overview Of The City's Aviation Network

Dallas, Texas, is home to two major airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. Several other airports are located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, including Arlington Municipal Airport, Dallas Executive Airport, and Dallas CBD Vertiport.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (IATA: DFW, ICAO: KDFW, FAA LID: DFW) 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. With a land area of 17,207 acres, it is the second-largest airport in the United States after Denver International Airport.

The airport has five terminals and 174 gates, designed in a half-circle shape to minimise the distance between the car and the plane and reduce traffic. Terminal D is the primary international terminal, with customs and border protection facilities. 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 has its own police, fire protection, and emergency medical services. It also has a free-standing emergency room on the airport grounds, the first of its kind on an airport's property globally.

Various ground transportation options are available, including bus routes operated by DART and Trinity Metro, and rail services such as DART light rail, TEXRail, and the Trinity Railway Express. A consolidated rental car facility is located at the south end of the airport.

The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport offers a range of amenities and services to ensure a smooth travel experience for its passengers. It has recently transitioned to digital payments at Exit Plazas to improve transaction speed and minimise delays. The airport also has a dedicated team of over 300 volunteers, known as DFW Airport Ambassadors, who assist travellers and make their journey more enjoyable.

Dallas Love Field Airport

Dallas Love Field originated in 1917 when the U.S. Army announced it would establish a series of camps to train prospective pilots after the United States entered World War I. The airfield was constructed just southeast of Bachman Lake, covering over 700 acres and accommodating up to 1,000 personnel. Love Field officially opened on October 19, 1917, and served as a base for flight training for the United States Army Air Service.

After the war, in 1923, the decision was made to phase down activities at Love Field due to reduced military budgets, and it was closed. However, in 1928, the city of Dallas purchased the field and opened it for civilian use. Love Field became Dallas' main airport, and by 1939, it had 21 weekday airline departures. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived at Love Field on Air Force One and was assassinated less than an hour later while his motorcade was travelling from the airport to the Dallas Trade Mart.

In 1974, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) opened, and most passenger service at Love Field ended. Today, Love Field has a single terminal with 20 gates and is served by several major airlines, including Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JSX. The airport offers convenient access to Plano, Texas, and provides ground transportation options such as shuttle services, ride-sharing, and public transport.

Dallas Executive Airport

Dallas, Texas, is served by several airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Love Field, Dallas Executive Airport, and Naval Air Station Dallas.

Redbird Airport was established in 1944 when the City of Dallas purchased 1026 acres of land to serve the general aviation needs of southwest Dallas. In 2002, the airport was renamed Dallas Executive Airport. The Commemorative Air Force established its headquarters at the airport in 2016, occupying a hangar on the southeast side of the airfield. The Dallas Police Department also operates its helicopter fleet from the airport.

In 2017, significant work was carried out to improve the existing runway, and further work was undertaken in 2018 to extend runway 13/31 and relocate the safety and protection zones. The airport has also seen brief periods of scheduled commercial air service, with Corporate Flight Management operating as Branson Air Express in 2011, providing flights to Branson, Missouri, using British Aerospace Jetstream 41 aircraft.

Naval Air Station Dallas

Dallas is served by two major airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. However, there are several other airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. These include Arlington Municipal Airport, Caddo Mills Municipal Airport, Dallas Executive Airport, and many more.

One of these airports is Naval Air Station Dallas, also known as Hensley Field. This airport was a former United States Navy Naval Air Station located on Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas. The installation was initially established as an Army aviation centre and later became home to aviation assets from all military services. The base was used by the military for training and aircraft operations, and it played a significant role in World War II, serving as a radial engine repair station and handling air traffic for the adjacent North American Aircraft Company plant.

The history of Naval Air Station Dallas can be traced back to August 1929 when the City of Dallas established Hensley Field as a training ground for Reserve pilots of the then-U.S. Army Air Corps. The facility was named after Major William N. Hensley, a flying instructor located near Dallas in the 1920s. The city leased the site to the United States Army for a nominal fee, and it became the Air Corps Reserve Base in the Eighth Corps Area.

In December 1941, Hensley Field became the headquarters of the Midwest Area of the Air Corps Ferrying Command. The following year, the U.S. Navy began maintaining operations at the base and established a Naval Air Reserve Base adjacent to Hensley Field. On 1 January 1943, the installation officially became Naval Air Station Dallas, with a mission to provide primary flight training for Naval Aviation Cadets. The base also trained enlisted personnel destined for aviation duty with the Fleet and Free French aviators.

Airports near Dallas

Dallas is served by two major airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. Both airports are easily accessible from Plano, with a normal drive time of 30-45 minutes to DFW and 7 miles between Love Field and Downtown Dallas.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the biggest airport in Texas and the fourth-busiest airport in the US, serving over 260 destinations worldwide. The airport is centred between Dallas and Fort Worth and acts as a major job generator for the North Texas region. It is the home of American Airlines and its international headquarters. The airport serves 153 cities worldwide, including 116 non-stop domestic destinations and 37 non-stop and direct international destinations.

Dallas Love Field Airport

Dallas Love Field Airport is a smaller, regional airport with fewer flights. It is a city-owned public airport serving more than 15.7 million passengers each year and providing access to more than 120 destinations. The airport is the recipient of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Airport Service Quality Award for North American Airports that serve 15-25 million passengers.

Other airports near Dallas

In addition to the two major airports, there are several smaller airports near Dallas:

• Aero Country Airport
• Arlington Municipal Airport
• Caddo Mills Municipal Airport
• Commerce Municipal Airport
• Dallas CBD Vertiport
• Dallas Executive Airport
• Denton Enterprise Airport
• Ennis Municipal Airport
• Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport
• Garland/DFW Heloplex

Frequently asked questions