Roberta Aguirre
Dallas is served by two major airports: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Love Field. DFW is the primary international airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region, and it is the largest hub for American Airlines. In 2022 and 2023, it was the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. Love Field, on the other hand, is a smaller, city-owned public airport located less than seven miles from Downtown Dallas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |
| Acronym | DFW |
| Location | Between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas |
| Year of Inauguration | 1974 |
| Area | 17,500 acres |
| Terminals | A, B, C, F |
| Number of Destinations | More than 120 |
| Number of Dining, Shopping and Service Options | 200+ |
| Number of Passengers | More than 73 million |
| Awards | Airport Service Quality Award for North American Airports (2018, 2019, 2020) |
| Other Airports | Love Field |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW is located roughly halfway between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. In 2022 and 2023, DFW was the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving over 73 million customers annually. It is also the most connected airport in the world, providing access to more than 120 destinations and offering daily direct flights from 250 destinations.
The airport first opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million. At the time, it was the largest airport in the world ever constructed in terms of land area, spanning 17,500 acres. The airport initially had four terminals, numbered 2W, 2E, 3E, and 4E, and was served by nine airlines. Southwest Airlines, however, refused to move to DFW, citing the convenience of its customers in Dallas as a central reason for remaining at Love Field. This prompted the enactment of the Wright Amendment in 1979, which restricted the types of aircraft operating between Love Field and airports beyond Texas and its neighbouring states.
DFW has continued to undergo significant expansion and improvement projects over the years, including the construction of Terminal F and enhancements to Terminal C, which will feature site-specific, large-scale art installations by artists Jen Rose and Pae White. The airport has also undertaken roadway detours to complete a new bridge into Terminal B as part of its International Parkway Project, which aims to improve customer driving experiences.
Hong Kong Airport Smoking Areas: Where to Light Up
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dallas Love Field Airport
Love Field Airport is preferred by some travellers due to its smaller size and proximity to downtown Dallas, which makes for quicker transfers. The airport is also served by Delta Air Lines and several full-service fixed-base operators (FBOs) that provide general aviation services such as fuel, maintenance, hangar rentals, and air charters.
The airport's third terminal, designed by Donald S. Nelson, opened in 1958 and featured three one-story concourses, 26 ramp-level gates, and the world's first airport moving walkways. At the time, air carriers serving the airport included American Airlines, Braniff International Airways, Central Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Trans-Texas Airways.
Fort Worth initially attempted to negotiate with Dallas to collaborate on a new airport, but these attempts were declined. Fort Worth then opened Amon Carter Field in 1953, which later became Greater Southwest International Airport, leaving Love Field and Greater Southwest as the only air transportation options for the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Delhi Airport: Best Places to Store Your Luggage
You may want to see also
Explore related products
DFW public art installations
When flying to Dallas, Texas, you can arrive at either Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) or Love Field Airport.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has announced the selection of artists Jen Rose and Pae White to create the first of more than a dozen public art installations as part of the reimagining of Terminal C and the new Terminal F. The artists were chosen following an international call for submissions and will create site-specific, large-scale art to be installed in the first phase of the reconstructed Terminal C, which is set to open in 2026.
The DFW Airport is currently undergoing a significant amount of construction, including terminal expansions, roadway overhauls, and airfield improvements. The International Parkway Project, which involves transitioning access into Terminals A, B, and C into right-hand exits from International Parkway, is one of the key projects. This project aims to enhance the customer experience by providing a more intuitive driving experience.
While the DFW Airport itself does not mention any current public art installations, the City of Dallas has a strong commitment to public art, as evidenced by their Percent for Art Ordinance. This ordinance allocates a percentage of capital improvement project costs to the commission of artworks located near the improvement sites. The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture also plays a crucial role in funding and facilitating public art projects, such as the Love Field Art Program at Love Field Airport, which consists of 17 public artworks, including North Texas Sunrise, a mosaic by Dixie Friend Gay.
Uber's Newark Liberty Airport Pickup: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$4.95
DART light rail system
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the primary airport serving Dallas, Texas. Another airport that serves Dallas is Love Field.
The DART light rail system serves the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas. It is owned and operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The system first began service on June 14, 1996, and covers 93 miles across 65 stations and four lines: the Blue Line, the Red Line, the Green Line, and the Orange Line.
The DART Rail System is one of the longest light rail systems in the United States. All lines pass through downtown Dallas, with stations also located in South Dallas, South Oak Cliff, West Oak Cliff, North Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Rowlett, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Pleasant Grove, Irving, and DFW Airport.
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is part of the DART Rail System and joins the downtowns of Dallas and Fort Worth, with several stops in between. The DART Rail service operates on a pre-defined schedule, and the trip planning tool can be used to determine the travel time between any two points.
DART offers a variety of tools to help riders navigate the system, including the GoPass app, which allows users to plan trips and buy DART passes, and the online DART Trip Planner, which can be used to create personalized trip plans and find the nearest DART stops.
Tampa Airport: Getting an Uber or Lyft?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
DFW's history
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is the largest hub for American Airlines and, as of 2025, is the eighth-busiest international gateway in the United States and the busiest in Texas.
The airport opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport on 13 January 1974, at a cost of $875 million ($5.5 billion in 2024). At the time, it was the largest airport in the world ever constructed in terms of land area, spanning 17,500 acres. The first flight to land was American Airlines Flight 341 from New York, which had stopped in Memphis and Little Rock. The name was changed to Dallas/Fort Worth International in 1985.
The idea for a joint airport in Dallas and Fort Worth was first proposed in 1927, but Fort Worth declined. As a result, each city opened its own airport: Love Field in Dallas and Meacham Field in Fort Worth. In the 1940s and 1950s, advancements in aeronautics created bigger planes that needed longer runways, which neither Love Field nor Meacham Field could accommodate. Plans for a regional airport serving both cities began in the mid-1960s, and the flat land north of Amon Carter Field was chosen for the site of DFW Airport. The original 1967 design featured pier-shaped terminals perpendicular to a central highway, but this was revised in 1968 to provide for semicircular terminals, which isolated loading and unloading areas from the central highway and provided additional room for parking. DFW held an open house and dedication ceremony in September 1973, which included the first landing of a supersonic Concorde in the United States.
Clear Airport Bags: Where to Buy Them
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The primary international airport serving Dallas is the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
The airport is less than seven miles from Downtown Dallas.
Another airport near Dallas is the city-owned public airport, Dallas Love Field, which is even closer to downtown Dallas at a distance of around 10 minutes' drive.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2022 and 2023, it was the second busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It is also the largest hub for American Airlines.
The airport opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport in 1974. The name was changed to Dallas/Fort Worth International in 1985.
