Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is turning 50 — let’s join the party
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) will turn 50 in January 2024, and it's marking the milestone with a year-long celebration that will include special events, activities and surprises.
The party kicks off on DFW’s anniversary day — Jan. 13 — with giveaways and special experiences for passengers in the terminals. There will also be fun campaigns in both Dallas and Fort Worth. (In the mid-1960s, the two cities grudgingly agreed to partner on a new, modern, regional airport halfway between two independent and proud growing metropolises.)
More events will roll out throughout the year. However, to prepare you for any DFW trivia quizzes that might come your way, we gathered some fun tidbits. Some information is from DFW officials, and some is from Bruce Bleakley, the former director of the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas and author of multiple books on North Texas aviation, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (Arcadia).
When DFW began operations in 1974, eight airlines served the airport. Today, 28 airlines serve DFW, offering flights to 256 destinations worldwide. The airport served an estimated 80 million passengers in 2023, and it's now the world’s second-busiest airport. It's also American Airlines’ largest hub.
Here are five cool moments in DFW history.
1. First US Airport visited by the supersonic Concorde
A four-day dedication ceremony took place before DFW officially started commercial operations in January 1974. On the first day of ceremony — Sept. 20, 1973 — the airport welcomed a supersonic British Airways/Air France Concorde.
“The Concorde had arrived from Caracas, Venezuela, with a passenger list of Braniff executives, international press representatives and European Concorde dignitaries,” Bleakley said, “and was the first time that a Concorde had landed in the United States.”
Two days later — Sept. 22, 1973 — tens of thousands of people attended a dedication ceremony that included an air show and exhibits.
2. Game-changing — and with its own zip code
The airport had its own zip code — 75261. This 26-minute-long promotional video released in 1972 was heralded as a game changer for air travel and “one of the most significant works of man in the entire world.”
The airport's construction was — and still is — pretty darn impressive. This is especially true when you see the drafting tools used to draw the contour maps for the original airport excavation in the days before computer-aided design existed.
3. The DFW dig
During the DFW excavation, workers uncovered an almost complete fossil of a 70-million-year-old Plesiosaur, a 25-foot-long reptile that lived in the ocean during the time of dinosaurs.
Braniff International Airways underwrote the cost of the fossil’s excavation and restoration. For a while, the fossil was displayed in Braniff’s Terminal 2W (now Terminal B). Today, though, DFW’s Plesiosaur is locked away in storage at an area university.
4. Five cemeteries on DFW property
A handful of airports around the country have graves on the property. However, there are five cemeteries within DFW Airport’s boundaries, according to Bleakley.
“These are from churches that were established in the area before the airport was built,” Bleakley said. “And while the churches themselves have moved, the cemeteries remain.”
5. Two DFW firsts
In 1998, DFW became the first U.S. airport to offer passengers an automated foreign currency exchange machine. In 2016, DFW was the first airport in North America to achieve carbon-neutral accreditation.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.