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The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (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. The airport is one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world, welcoming over 63 million customers annually. With a $2.7 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program, DFW strives to elevate the customer experience and become one of the world's best airports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |
| Acronym | DFW |
| Location | Between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas |
| Area | 17,500 acres (27.3 sq mi; 7,100 ha; 71 km2) |
| Number of Gates | Being expanded |
| Facilities | Dining options, parking, shopping |
| Airlines | American Airlines |
| Year of Opening | 1974 |
| Year of Expansion | 2043 |
| Investment | $4 billion |
| Number of Destinations | 149 domestic, 55 international |
| Number of Customers | 63 million+ |
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What You'll Learn
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
The history of DFW Airport dates back to the mid-20th century when, in 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Administration earmarked funds for the construction of a joint Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport. However, the project was abandoned in 1942 due to disagreements between the governments of Dallas and Fort Worth. After World War II, Fort Worth developed its own airport, Amon Carter Field, with the help of American Airlines. In 1960, this airport was renamed Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW), but it failed to compete with Dallas' Love Field.
In the mid-1960s, the idea of a joint airport was revisited as GSW's traffic declined and Love Field became congested. In 1964, the federal government ordered that if the cities could not agree on a site, it would unilaterally choose one. This prompted officials from Dallas and Fort Worth to finally agree on a location just north of GSW, almost equidistant from both city centres. The land was purchased in 1966, and construction began in 1969. The airport, now known as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million.
Today, DFW Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines and the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements. It offers service to 254 destinations from 28 passenger airlines and has been recognised as the largest carbon-neutral airport in the world. The airport is currently expanding its facilities, with plans to double the number of gates and enhance customer amenities, including the addition of the new Terminal F, expected to be completed by 2043.
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DFW is the third-busiest airport in the world
The 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, which is headquartered near the airport. DFW Airport has service to 254 destinations (191 domestic and 63 international) from 28 passenger airlines.
DFW Airport has been expanding and improving its facilities. The DFW Forward project is a $12 billion capital improvement program that includes plans to add or refurbish 68 gates. Terminal F, for example, will feature 31 self-supported gates thanks to a $4 billion investment from Fort Worth-based American. In addition, Terminal C, which is DFW's busiest and most outdated terminal, is undergoing a $3 billion modernisation project. This includes the removal of 400 view-blocking columns, a roof raise, and a 115,000-square-foot pier expansion with five rebuilt and four new gates. Terminal A will also be expanded, with a 140,000-square-foot pier expansion and five rebuilt and four new gates.
Other projects include the Electric Central Utility Plant (eCUP), which will heat and cool DFW's terminals with electricity supplied from 100% renewable resources, the East-West Connector Roadway, a new road on the airport's south side connecting Rental Car Drive to State Highway 360, and the Southwest End-Around Taxiway Project, which will add a third taxiway. Two new fire stations are being built in central airfield locations on both sides of the airport, and the 19th Street Cargo Redevelopment will nearly double cargo aircraft parking capacity with seven new positions designed for large aircraft.
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The airport is located between Dallas and Fort Worth
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is located between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. The airport is one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world, welcoming over 63 million customers annually.
The airport is located roughly halfway between the two major cities, with the land it occupies being purchased in 1966. The site was chosen after the Federal Aviation Administration refused to invest in separate Dallas and Fort Worth airports. The joint airport proposal was first considered in 1961, but it was only after the FAA refused further investment in separate airports that the cities agreed on a location. The airport's construction began in 1969, and it opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, at a total cost of $875 million.
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. The airline has recently announced an agreement to expand the scope of the airport's new Terminal F, including doubling the number of gates and adding facilities to grow international operations. The new plan extends the Use and Lease Agreement between DFW and American Airlines to 2043, with an estimated investment of $4 billion.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by aircraft movements and passenger traffic. As of 2025, it is the eighth-busiest international gateway in the United States and the busiest in Texas. The airport offers 149 domestic and 55 international nonstop destinations worldwide.
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American Airlines has its largest hub at DFW
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the largest hub for American Airlines. It is located between Dallas and Fort Worth, spreading across portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties. The airport includes parts of Grapevine, Irving, Euless, and Coppel.
The story of how DFW became American Airlines' largest hub began in 1927 when Dallas proposed a joint airport with Fort Worth. However, Fort Worth declined the offer, and each city opened its own airport: Love Field in Dallas and Meacham Field in Fort Worth. In 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Administration allocated funds for the construction of a Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport, and American Airlines struck a deal with the city of Arlington to build an airport. However, the project was abandoned in 1942 due to disagreements between Dallas and Fort Worth over its construction.
After World War II, Fort Worth developed Amon Carter Field with the help of American Airlines. In 1953, commercial flights were transferred from Meacham to Amon Carter Field, which was 12 miles from Love Field. Despite this, Amon Carter Field's traffic continued to decline relative to Love Field. In 1960, Fort Worth purchased the field and renamed it Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW) to compete with Dallas' airport. However, by the mid-1960s, GSW was virtually abandoned, and the joint airport proposal was revisited.
In 1964, the federal government ordered that if the cities could not agree on a site, it would unilaterally choose one. Finally, in 1966, officials from Dallas and Fort Worth agreed on a location just north of GSW, almost equidistant from both city centres. Construction began in 1969, and the airport opened for commercial service in 1974.
Today, DFW is a massive, dynamic global transportation centre with connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide. It contributes around $37 billion annually to the local economy and is a major operational base for American Airlines and the Oneworld alliance. As of 2025, it is the eighth busiest international gateway in the United States and the busiest in Texas. The hub is the second-largest single airline hub in the world and the United States, behind Delta Air Lines' hub in Atlanta.
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The airport opened in 1974
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport on January 13, 1974. At the time, it was the largest airport in the world ever constructed in terms of land area, spanning 17,500 acres (27.3 sq mi; 7,100 ha; 71 km2). The airport cost $875 million to build, including $65 million for the land and $810 million in total construction costs. This amount, in today's money, would be equivalent to $5.5 billion.
The airport's dedication ceremony was held in September 1973 and included the first landing of a supersonic Concorde in the United States. Notable attendees at the ceremony included former Texas Governor John Connally, Transportation Secretary Claude Brinegar, U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, and Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.
When the airport opened in 1974, it had four terminals: 2W, 2E, 3E, and 4E. During its first year of operations, DFW was served by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Braniff International Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines, among others. Delta Airlines had a significant presence at DFW, operating a hub there for three decades until 2004.
The Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport, located adjacent to Terminal C, was built in 1978 and offered shuttle buses connecting to all terminals. The hotel featured 811 rooms, substantial meeting space, and several food and beverage outlets.
Since its opening in 1974, DFW has undergone expansions and improvements, with an additional $600 million spent on development between 1974 and 1988. Today, DFW is a major global hub, serving as the primary international airport for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is the largest hub for American Airlines and consistently ranks as one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Dallas, Texas, is called Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
The airport code for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is DFW.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world, welcoming over 63 million customers annually. As of 2022 and 2023, it was the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements and the second-busiest by passenger traffic.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. The airport opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, and at the time, it was the largest airport in the world in terms of land area.
From Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, customers can choose from 149 domestic and 55 international nonstop destinations worldwide.
