DALLAS — A Dallas City Council committee Tuesday went over options for Love Field Airport layout changes in hopes of preparing the airport for population growth and rising travel demand.
Dallas’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed Tuesday on four layout alternatives.
The first layout calls for widening the concourse by 50 feet, moving pedestrian walkways, adding inbound baggage and baggage claim devices and other small changes. The second layout option involves building a second level, moving ticketing and security screening to the concourse level, expanding baggage claim in the current check-in area, and widening the concourse by 50 feet, among other small changes. The third option would move baggage dropoff to Garage A, expand baggage claim to the current check-in area, widen the concourse by 50 feet and more. The fourth option calls for moving four gates to a new south concourse, changing the existing concourse to accommodate only 16 gates, consolidated baggage claim and more, but no widening of the existing concourse.
Other airport improvements discussed include expanding gate hold rooms, concessions and restrooms, new and expanded parking areas, a new rental car facility, roadway improvements and expanded airport entrance. The improvements are part of the Dallas Love Field Master Plan.
“With all this, we want to maximize the level of service and stay within that 20-gate limitation that we have,” said Dallas Director of Aviation Patrick Carreno.
Carreno said officials looked at factors like cost and improving the flow of passengers through the airport when evaluating the layout alternatives.
“We want to get all the functional safety and security and efficiencies in there within reasonable cost and then we want to address the passenger needs and generate that revenue,” Carreno said.
The improvements tie in with a new airline use and lease agreement with carriers, including Southwest. The current one expires in 2028, but the improvements would be phased in beyond that time, officials say.
Carreno said officials will continue to evaluate the layout options, select a preferred option and come back before the city council’s transportation and infrastructure committee with a preferred development plan. He said officials hope to present the full capital improvement program with a new airline use and lease agreement tied into it to the city council next year.
He said the city is also looking at ways to reduce vehicular traffic.
Officials said they hope the changes help prepare the airport for the future as DFW’s population grows. In fiscal year 2023, Love Field was the busiest medium hub airport in the country with about 17.5 million passengers coming through.