Dallas Love Field Airport: A Convenient Location For Travellers

Dallas Love Field Airport is a city-owned public airport in the neighbourhood of Love Field, 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. It is located at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Herb Kelleher Way, just 7 miles from downtown Dallas and close to major highways I-35, the Dallas North Tollway, and US-75 Central Expressway. The airport is named after Moss L. Love, who died in an airplane crash in 1913 and became the tenth fatality in U.S. Army aviation history. Dallas Love Field was the main airport of Dallas until 1974 when the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport opened. Today, it is the second-largest airport in the area, serving about 15.5 million passengers annually and connecting Texas with all other states in the country.

Dallas Love Field Airport is 6-7 miles from downtown Dallas

Dallas Love Field Airport is conveniently situated just 6-7 miles from downtown Dallas, in the neighbourhood of Love Field. The airport is easily accessible from the heart of the city, with a simple route north or south from I-35, exiting at Mockingbird Lane and heading west to Herb Kelleher Way.

The airport is also close to other major highways, including the Dallas North Tollway, US-75 Central Expressway, and I-35, making it simple to reach from across the wider region.

Dallas Love Field Airport is an excellent option for travellers heading to the Dallas area, as well as those visiting the nearby cities of Arlington and Fort Worth. The airport is currently used only for domestic flights, serving all other states in the country. With approximately 15.5 million passengers passing through each year, it is the second-largest airport in the area, after Fort Worth International Airport.

The airport covers 1,300 acres of land and sits at an elevation of 487 feet above mean sea level. It has two runways and is the birthplace, corporate headquarters, and a major operating base of Southwest Airlines.

With its proximity to downtown Dallas and excellent transport links, Dallas Love Field Airport is a convenient and accessible option for travellers visiting the area.

The airport is close to major highways I-35, the Dallas North Tollway and US-75 Central Expressway

Dallas Love Field Airport is conveniently located close to several major highways, making it easily accessible from various parts of the city and beyond. Here is some essential information about the airport's proximity to these highways:

I-35: Dallas Love Field Airport is easily accessible from Interstate 35 (I-35), one of the major north-south highways in the United States. When driving on I-35, either from the north or south, travellers can simply exit at Mockingbird Lane and proceed east to the airport entrance at Herb Kelleher Way. This provides a direct route to the airport for those coming from the north or south of Dallas.

Dallas North Tollway: For those approaching from the north or south on the Dallas North Tollway, a major toll road in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, exiting at Mockingbird Lane is also the recommended route. From there, drivers can proceed west to the airport entrance at Herb Kelleher Way. This tollway is particularly useful for those travelling to or from the northern suburbs of Dallas.

US-75 Central Expressway: Similarly, for travellers coming from the north or south on the US-75 Central Expressway, a major north-south highway, exiting at Mockingbird Lane and heading west to Herb Kelleher Way will lead directly to the airport. The US-75 provides a convenient route for those travelling to or from downtown Dallas and other areas along this expressway.

The proximity of Dallas Love Field Airport to these major highways makes it easily reachable for travellers coming from various directions. With easy access from I-35, the Dallas North Tollway, and US-75 Central Expressway, the airport serves as a convenient gateway to the city of Dallas and the surrounding region. This accessibility has contributed to the airport's popularity and prominence in the area.

It is named after Moss L. Love, who died in an airplane crash in 1913

Dallas Love Field Airport is located 6 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. It was Dallas' main airport until 1974 when Dallas Fort Worth International Airport opened.

The airport is named after Moss L. Love, a pioneering military aviator who died in an aeroplane crash in 1913. Love was born in 1879 in Fairfax, Virginia, and came from a prominent family. He joined the Army in 1901 and became an officer in the 7th Cavalry. In 1911, he volunteered for the fledgling Army Air Service, receiving flight instruction from Lt. Frank P. Lahm.

On September 4, 1913, Love was practising for his Military Aviator Test near San Diego, California, when his Wright Model C biplane crashed. He died instantly and became the eighth or tenth fatality in aviation history.

Love Field was opened by the United States Army on October 19, 1917, and was named after Love in keeping with the custom of the time to name new airfields after military aviators who had been killed in crashes.

It was Dallas' main airport until 1974

Dallas Love Field Airport is a city-owned public airport located in the neighbourhood of Love Field, 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. It was named after Moss L. Love, a US Army Lieutenant who died in an airplane crash in 1913.

Dallas Love Field originated in 1917 when the US 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 southeast of Bachman Lake and covered over 700 acres, accommodating up to 1,000 personnel. It served as a base for flight training for the US Army Air Service, with primary training taking eight weeks and consisting of basic flight skills instruction.

After officially opening on October 19, 1917, the airport continued as a military air base until the City of Dallas purchased it in 1927, paving the way for civilian use. The first paved runways were completed in 1932, and commercial air service grew throughout the 1930s. During World War II, the airport once again played an extensive role for the military. In the post-war boom, it experienced expansive growth as a passenger airport.

In 1964, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated that the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth agree to build a major airport to serve the entire DFW Metroplex. This led to the construction of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which opened in 1974. Until then, Dallas Love Field Airport served as Dallas' main airport.

In its busiest year, 1973, Dallas Love Field Airport saw over 6.6 million enplanements and ranked as the eighth busiest airport in the United States. However, with the opening of DFW Airport, most passenger service at Love Field ended, and the airport saw a drastic reduction in flights and enplanements in 1974.

Despite the initial plans to end passenger service at Love Field, the airport remained open due to the efforts of Southwest Airlines, which was founded in 1971 and refused to move its operations to DFW. A lengthy legal battle ensued, resulting in the Wright Amendment, which restricted passenger aircraft operations at Love Field to locations within Texas and neighbouring states.

Today, Dallas Love Field Airport is the busiest medium-hub airport in the United States, despite a federally mandated cap of 20 gates and a bar on international travel. In 2023, the airport handled over 17.5 million passengers, reflecting a 10% increase compared to 2022.

It is used only for domestic flights

Dallas Love Field Airport is a city-owned public airport in the neighbourhood of Love Field, 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. It is named after Moss L. Love, a US Army soldier who died in an airplane crash in 1913. Love Field was established in 1917 when the US Army announced it would set up a series of camps to train prospective pilots after the US entered World War I.

Love Field was Dallas' main airport until 1974 when the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) opened. Since then, Love Field has only been used for domestic flights. This restriction came about due to the Wright Amendment, a federal law banning flights outside of Texas and its neighbouring states. The Wright Amendment was passed to encourage airlines to move from Love Field to the newly opened DFW Airport.

In 2006, a compromise was reached to repeal the Wright Amendment, but with the condition that Love Field would only be allowed to have 20 gates and would continue to handle only domestic flights. Southwest Airlines, which has a near-monopoly at Love Field, opposed the Wright Amendment, claiming that it was anti-competitive and outdated.

Today, Love Field remains a domestic-only airport, with Southwest Airlines operating from 18 of its 20 gates.

Frequently asked questions