Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is ready for what’s expected to be among the busiest winter holiday travel seasons in the airport’s nearly 50-year history.
This season, DFW is expecting to welcome 2.9 million customers between Nov. 16 and Nov. 28 for the Thanksgiving travel period. The busiest days for the travel period are projected to be Sunday, Nov. 26, with more than 249,000 customers expected, and Sunday, Nov. 19, with more than 241,000 customers expected.
For the winter holiday period, DFW is expecting 4.5 million customers to travel through the airport between Dec. 14 and Jan. 2. The busiest days are projected to be Friday, Dec. 22, with more than 245,000 customers, Friday, Dec. 15, with more than 243,000, and Thursday, Dec. 21, with more than 241,000 customers expected.
This leads to a combined 7.4 million customers that DFW Airport will be prepared to warmly welcome during these two holiday travel periods. This is 6.4 percent higher compared to the same travel periods last year.
“DFW Airport is eager and ready to greet our Thanksgiving and winter holiday customers. As we demonstrated over the summer – which was the busiest on record – we have an efficient and helpful staff that will focus on providing an exceptional experience for our guests,” said Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Revenue Management. “Travelers should be prepared for the holiday rush by visiting the DFW Airport website or by downloading our mobile app before they head to the airport, planning their parking ahead of time and checking security wait times before leaving for the airport.”
Though the terminals will be bustling, DFW is committed to surprising and delighting its customers so they can enjoy holiday entertainment while awaiting their flights. Each Friday in December will be Festive Fridays, which will feature live local musical groups and local artists inside the terminals. Travelers can find detailed performance times and locations on DFW’s official social media channels.
With the increase in holiday traffic, customers should arrive at least two hours before their flight to provide ample time to park, check in, clear security, and get to their gate.
The best tools to navigate DFW Airport are the airport’s app and website. From the website, you can view parking lot occupancy levels to determine the best parking option to use, and you can pre-book your parking as well. Travelers are encouraged to make their parking plans early as pre-booked parking is expected to sell out quickly, especially for peak travel dates. If you are traveling over the winter holiday, you can earn more savings the earlier you book. When it comes to parking, the garages at Terminals C and D tend to fill up faster than other garages. If C and D garages are full, those flying American Airlines can park, check in, check their bags, and go through security in either Terminals A or B to expedite their time at DFW. Once past security, the Skylink train can connect customers to all five terminals so they can get to their departure gate within minutes. The mobile app also lets you view TSA wait times. This will show you how long it will take to clear through TSA, and where the TSA Checkpoints and TSA PreCheck are located.
DFW is beginning a number of construction projects as part of its modernization of Terminal C and improved infrastructure throughout the Central Terminal Area. Guests should be aware of ongoing work at Terminals C and D. A project to upgrade checked baggage equipment in the Terminal D south lobby has temporarily relocated the check-in counters for some of DFW’s international airlines. For more information on this project, please click here. Another project beginning Dec. 4 will impact part of the lower-level roadway at Terminal C, as a portion of the curb will be closed in preparation for construction work at Terminal C and in the Terminal C garage. Customers who park in the lower level of Terminal C should follow signage that will help navigate into the terminal.
Finally, customers should always check with their airline on the latest status of their flight before beginning their journey to DFW.
About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport:
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the world’s busiest and most connected airports. Centered between its owner cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, it serves as a major economic engine generating jobs and attracting businesses. DFW is committed to providing exceptional customer service and has been named the best large airport for customer satisfaction in North America by Airports Council International. A leader in sustainability, DFW is the world’s largest and North America’s first carbon-neutral airport. For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Mobile App for iOS and Android devices.
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