A Message from all of us at DFW Airport.
Transforming travel for
DFW Celebrates
Leaders from Dallas and Fort Worth started it all — their amazing vision led to DFW Airport’s first flight in 1974.
Along the way, we received unwavering support from our local communities as we worked to be part of the regional success of North Texas. We’re not stopping anytime soon as we move forward toward an even brighter future supported by our owner cities, business and community partners and employees.
Without all of you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. To mark this milestone, we’re recognizing everyone who helped make it happen.
So, let the celebration begin!
How we got here. And we’re just getting started.
We opened our gates on January 13, 1974, with the arrival of American Airlines Flight 341 from Little Rock, Arkansas. At that point, DFW was the largest U.S. airport ever constructed.
We haven’t looked back since. Not when we became the first U.S. airport to host the supersonic Concorde. Or when we expanded beyond our regional roots to become an international travel hub with 200+ destinations. Not when we opened our seventh runway or completed the Terminal D expansion. Instead, we kept our eyes on the horizon, continuing to grow and improve as we moved forward.
None of this would have been possible without our valued partners, amazing employees and supporting communities — and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make our vision a reality. We’re excited to see what we can do together in the next 50 years as we begin construction on Terminal F, set our sights on reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and more.
Think you know DFW?
Let’s start with some fun facts and interesting stats to help you get to know DFW Airport a little better.
Thinking Big
In 1974, DFW Airport was founded as the Dallas Fort Worth Regional Airport, with four terminals and three runways on over 17,000 acres, making it the world’s largest airport by land when it opened.
Sizing Us Up
At over 26.9 square miles, DFW Airport is larger than the island of Manhattan.
Staying Busy
DFW Airport is the world’s second-busiest airport, serving more than 80 million passengers annually.
Keeping It Moving
More than 791,192 tons of cargo moved through DFW Airport in 2023.
Welcoming NASA
NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis and its Boeing 747 transport jet landed at DFW Airport on May 15, 1989, making it the first commercial airport to host a space shuttle transport landing.
Going Carbon Neutral
In 2016, DFW Airport became the first carbon neutral airport in North America and the largest in the world.