Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is American Airlines’ largest hub.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is hugely important. It serves slightly more than eight million people in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. DFW is American Airlines’ largest hub and the world’s third-busiest airport by aircraft movements. It is also the sixth-busiest international gateway into the United States and the second biggest in Texas after George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston.
American Airlines hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second-largest airline hub globally behind Delta Air Lines hub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Georgia. Located approximately halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW occupies a land area of 17,207 acres, making it the second-largest airport by land size in the United States after Denver International Airport (DEN). The footprint of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is so large that it not only has its own postal code but also dedicated police, fire, and emergency medical services.
Photo: American Airlines
Today, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) offers flights to 191 domestic and 63 international destinations by 28 airlines. DFW also now has more non-stop flights than any other airline, with every major American city having a four-hour or less flight. DFW has the distinction of being the first airport in the United States to achieve carbon-neutral status.
How Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) came to be
Back in 1927, the city of Dallas proposed building a joint airport with the city of Fort Worth. The political leaders of Fort Worth declined the offer, and both entities opened separate airports, which were:
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Meacham Field Airport (FTW)
In 1940, before the United States entered WWII, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), had earmarked $1,900,000 million to build a new airport that would serve both cities. Eager for the new airport to be built, American Airlines and Braniff Airways petitioned the city of Arlington to provide the land. Not happy that they would not gain financially from the airport being built in Arlington, both Dallas and Fort Worth opposed the idea.
Following the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the United States entering WWII, all plans to build a new airport in north Texas were abandoned. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered, and with the help of American Airlines, Fort Worth began building what would become Amon Carter Field (ACF), located just 12 miles away from Dallas Love Field. Renaming it Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW) to compete with Love Field (DAL), GSW failed to attract airlines who preferred flying to and from Love Field (DAL).
The FAA refused to aid two airports
As air traffic continued to grow, Dallas and Fort Worth knew that they needed to increase capacity at their airports. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) refused to give money to the two airports despite Love Field (DAL) being unable to cope with an increasing number of flights. In 1964, the FAA said that if the two cities could not agree on a mutually agreeable site for a new airport, it would select a place to build it.
In the end, Dallas and Fort Worth agreed upon a site that was nearly halfway between them. After several years of planning, work commenced on building the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in 1969. A three-day open house took place between September 20 and September 23, 1973, with the new airport welcoming the first Anglo-French Concorde to land in the United States. An Air France Concorde made a special visit on a flight between Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport (CCS) in Caracas, Venezuela, and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France.
The airport opened officially in January 1974
The airport opened to commercial traffic officially on January 13, 1974, with the first flight to arrive at the airport, American Airlines Flight 341 from New York, touched down. When Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) first opened, it had four terminals that were served by nine airlines, which were:
- American Airlines
- Braniff International Airways
- Continental Airlines
- Delta Air Line
- Eastern Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Ozark Air Lines
- Rio Airways
- Texas International Airlines
When DFW opened in 1974, Southwest Airlines was still seeking permission to fly between the Texas Triangle cities of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. When asked if they would like to move to DFW, the airline refused because the move would be inconvenient for Dallas residents.
American Airlines establishes its first hub
Following the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, American Airlines, which was already a major airline at DFW, decided to establish its first hub at DFW. While DFW remains American Airlines most important hub after acquiring some Eastern Airlines routes and absorbing what was US Airways, it now has hubs at the following airports:
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
DFW has seven runways
Over the years, American Airlines has increased its presence at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), helping it become one of the world’s busiest airports. While DFW does not have eight runways like Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), it comes in second place with seven, the longest of which is 18L/36R at 13,401 feet long.
Photo: American Airlines
When speaking about American Airlines commitment to DFW in a company statement to commemorate 50 years of operations at DFW, American’s Senior Vice President of DFW Hub Operations, Jim Moses, said:
“DFW is the cornerstone of America’s global operation, and we’re proud of the growth and investment that comes with a legacy of five decades and counting. As we celebrate this milestone, we are grateful for strong ties with our partners at the airport, throughout the community, and in the region, as well as the leadership of visionaries in Dallas and Fort Worth who had the foresight to unite two cities with a world-class airport fifty years ago.”
Source: Simple Flying
