Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is gearing up for what is anticipated to be one of its busiest winter holiday travel seasons in its nearly 50-year history.
Between November 16 and November 28, DFW expects to welcome 2.9 million customers for the Thanksgiving travel period. The peak days during this period are projected to be Sunday, Nov. 26, with over 249,000 customers, and Sunday, Nov. 19, with more than 241,000 customers expected.
Looking ahead to the winter holiday period from December 14 to January 2, DFW anticipates 4.5 million customers passing through the airport. The busiest days for this period are forecasted to be Friday, Dec. 22, with more than 245,000 customers, Friday, Dec. 15, with over 243,000, and Thursday, Dec. 21, with more than 241,000 customers expected.
This totals a combined 7.4 million customers that DFW Airport is prepared to welcome during the two holiday travel periods, reflecting a 6.4 percent increase compared to the same periods last year.
Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Revenue Management, stated, "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."
To enhance the holiday travel experience, DFW will host Festive Fridays throughout December, featuring live local musical groups and artists inside the terminals. Detailed performance times and locations can be found on DFW's official social media channels.
With the expected surge in holiday traffic, DFW advises travelers to arrive at least two hours before their flight, allowing ample time for parking, check-in, security clearance, and reaching their gate. Passengers are encouraged to visit the DFW Airport website or download the mobile app for pre-travel planning, including parking arrangements and checking security wait times.
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.
DFW Airport Officials also recommend that, customers check with their airline on the latest status of their flight before beginning their journey to DFW.
