Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) sits about 16 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, while Dallas Love Field (DAL) is roughly 6 miles northwest — the two airports are just a 20-minute drive apart via State Highway 114.
What are the 2 airports in Dallas?
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) are the two main airports serving the Dallas area.
DFW is the big international hub run by the DFW Airport Board and American Airlines’ main base. DAL, just 6 miles from downtown Dallas, is smaller and focuses on domestic flights as Southwest Airlines’ headquarters. Both airports connect to the DART system and major highways.
Is Dallas-Fort Worth airport big?
DFW is the second-largest U.S. airport by land area at 17,207 acres.
Only Denver International is bigger. This massive airport spreads across four cities—Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell—and handles over 75 million passengers yearly. In 2025, DFW finished a $2 billion upgrade to Terminal D, adding tons of new dining and shopping spots.
What city is the Dallas-Fort Worth airport located?
DFW sits in four cities: Irving, Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell.
It even has its own ZIP code (75261) and its own police, fire, and emergency services. Being right between Dallas and Fort Worth makes it super convenient for both cities. You can reach it via SH 114, SH 183, or the DART Orange Line.
Is Dallas-Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field the same airport?
DFW and DAL are completely separate airports.
DAL was Dallas’s main airport until DFW opened in 1973. Now DAL mostly handles domestic flights and Southwest’s operations, while DFW is a massive international hub moving nearly 75% of the metroplex’s air travelers.
Is Dallas airport bigger than Atlanta?
No — Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) handles more passengers than DFW.
ATL sees over 90 million passengers yearly, while DFW handles about 75 million. ATL is actually the busiest airport in the world, with over 250,000 passengers daily. DFW is still the fourth-busiest in the U.S. and the largest in Texas.
Can you sleep at Dallas airport?
Yes — DFW is pretty sleep-friendly with 24/7 access, quiet zones, and nearby hotels.
You’ll find couches and recliners in Terminals A and D, plus 24-hour food courts and pet relief areas. Need a real bed? The Grand Hyatt DFW and Hyatt Place DFW Airport are right on-site. Minute Suites in Terminal D (gates D21-D23) offers hourly rooms too. Security and staff are usually pretty understanding.
Which airport is better Dallas Fort Worth or Love Field?
DFW wins for international travel and airline options, while Love Field wins for convenience and shorter lines.
DFW has over 20 airlines, international routes, and better long-haul connections. DAL is just 6 miles from downtown (vs. DFW’s 16), has shorter TSA waits, and feels less crowded. If you’re flying Southwest within Texas or the South, DAL is the obvious choice.
How many terminals does Dallas Fort Worth airport have?
DFW has five terminals: A, B, C, D, and E.
Terminals A and B are American Airlines’ main stomping grounds. Terminals C and D handle most international and domestic flights, including Delta, United, and Spirit. Terminal E merged into Terminal D after renovations but still connects via the SkyLink people mover. Every terminal has food, shopping, and restrooms.
Does Southwest fly into DFW?
Southwest Airlines doesn’t fly into DFW — it only operates from Dallas Love Field (DAL).
Southwest’s entire fleet of 700+ Boeing 737s serves DAL, with gates clustered in the central terminal area. DFW is American Airlines’ domain, offering global connections. Southwest has called Love Field home since 1971.
Why can’t Southwest fly into DFW?
Southwest can’t operate from DFW due to the Wright Amendment and its later restrictions.
The Wright Amendment, passed in 1979, limited long-haul flights from Love Field. A 2014 deal let Southwest fly to most states from DAL but kept DFW off-limits unless they give up some Love Field gates. As of 2026, that ban’s still in place unless lawmakers change it.
What airlines fly into Love Field TX?
Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines are the main carriers at Dallas Love Field (DAL).
Southwest dominates with nonstop flights to over 40 U.S. cities from gates 1–10, 12, and 14–20. Alaska and Delta serve a handful of domestic routes. DAL doesn’t have customs, so all flights are domestic. Southwest’s traffic makes up over 95% of the airport’s business.
Is there a shuttle between Dallas Love Field and DFW?
Yes — the DART Orange Line and Love Link shuttle connect Love Field and DFW Airport.
Take the DART Orange Line from DFW to Inwood/Love Field Station, then hop on the Love Link shuttle (Route 524) to the terminal. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs $2.50. Uber and Lyft are also solid options if you’d rather ride-share.
Which airport is the busiest in the US?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest U.S. airport by passenger traffic.
ATL served over 90 million passengers in 2024, with Delta running its main hub there. DFW came in fourth with about 75 million passengers. ATL’s huge domestic and international network makes it the top connecting hub for the southeastern U.S.
Which city has the most airports?
London tops the list with six major airports in its metro area.
| Rank |
Metropolitan Area |
Airports Included |
| 1 |
London |
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City, Southend |
| 2 |
New York |
JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, Newburgh, Islip, White Plains |
| 3 |
Tokyo |
Haneda, Narita, Chōfu, Ibaraki |
| 4 |
Shanghai |
Pudong, Hongqiao |
What airport is the busiest in the world?
In 2020, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in China was the world’s busiest airport, handling over 40 million passengers.
By 2024, ATL had overtaken CAN to become the busiest airport globally by passenger volume. CAN remains a major hub for China Southern Airlines, connecting to over 120 international destinations. The airport has two terminals and is expanding to keep up with demand.
