Dallas Fort Worth International Airport celebrates 50 years of operation this month.
A United Airlines flight was the first commercial service to land at the airport on January 13, 1974, although an opening ceremony in September 1973 included the landing of an Air France Concorde aircraft.
The airport was the largest in the world when it opened as DFW Regional Airport, initially serving nine airlines across four terminals, three runways and 66 gates.
A total of 28 airlines now operate from the airport, the largest being American Airlines, which is headquartered in Fort Worth.
Last year, the airline opened a $100 million catering center in Dallas Fort Worth, the largest of its kind in the United States at about 20,000 square meters.
American Airlines opens catering facility in Dallas Fort Worth International
The airport is estimated to welcome 80 million passengers in 2023, with flights to 256 destinations around the world.
It remains the world's third largest airport by land area, and now has a total of seven runways and 171 gates, with construction scheduled to begin on a sixth terminal later this year.
A summarized history of the airport's key milestones during its 50 years of operation can be seen below.
Commenting on the news, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said:
“DFW Airport is key to what makes Fort Worth and North Texas stand out among its peers. Over the past 50 years, DFW has fueled much of our economic growth and ushered in a new generation of successful businesses that can easily reach not only the entire country, but the entire world in a matter of hours.
“Many successful Fort Worth businesses chose to move to Fort Worth thanks to DFW, including our local airline, American Airlines. We look forward to welcoming every new business, resident and visitor that DFW brings to Fort Worth with open arms and what the next 50 years of connection will bring.”
Dallas Fort Worth Landmarks
- 1965 – The cities of Dallas and Fort Worth formed an interim board to plan and develop what would become DFW Regional Airport.
- 1973 – Concorde first landed in the US at DFW Airport before its opening.
- 1974 – Opened as DFW Regional Airport – four terminals, three runways, 66 gates
- 1977 – Ranked as the third busiest airport in the world
- 1979 – American Airlines moves its headquarters from New York to Fort Worth, TX
- 1981 – American Airlines established DFW Airport as its first hub.
- 1983 – The fourth and fifth runways open.
- 1985 – Renamed Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
- 1986 – The sixth runway was inaugurated and served more than 43 million passengers.
- 1989 – First commercial airport to host a space shuttle landing.
- 1992 – The first environmental impact statement was initiated.
- 1994 – Two new control towers are built and the Fire Research and Training Center opens.
- 1996 – The seventh runway was inaugurated; Only airport in the world with seven runways at that time.
- 2000 – International cargo center and international perishable processing facility opens.
- 2000 – A new consolidated car rental facility opens.
- 2005 – Terminal D, Skylink and Grand Hyatt open
- 2016 – Named “Best Large Airport in North America” by Airports Council International
- 2019: Named “Airport of the Year” by Air Transport World
- 2020 – Obtained the United Nations Global Climate Action Award
- 2021 – Expansion of Terminal D South inaugurated
- 2022: Terminal C's “High C Gates” open and DFW is again named “Best Large Airport in North America” by Airports Council International.
- 2023: A new lease and use agreement was established that pre-approves capital projects, including the reconstruction of Terminal C and the construction of a new Terminal F.
