Drivers traversing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport will soon have to pay more to do so, as the airport has announced multiple fee hikes that will take effect on May 1.
The changes, which include increased charges for parking and pass-through, have sparked concerns about affordability for travelers and local drivers alike.
The pass-through fee for drivers spending eight minutes or less on airport grounds is increasing from $6 to $9.
The fee, which was increased from $4 to the current $6 in October 2021, is intended to discourage drivers from using the airport roads as a shortcut, DFW CFO Chris Poisatte said at the time, per The Dallas Morning News. He explained that the airport roads are built and maintained with airport funds and fees and are not meant for general public use.
Notably, the airport does not receive any taxpayer money from the Texas Department of Transportation to build or maintain roads on its grounds.
The number of daily pass-through drivers at the airport has declined dramatically over the last 10 years, from an average of 4,500 per day in 2013 to an average of 1,000 per day in 2022, according to the travel blog StandByWithMe. Those numbers may drop even further when the new fee hike takes effect.
Additionally, drivers who simply enter the airport property to pick up or drop off passengers must pay to use the airport’s roadways. The current fees are $2 for 8 to 30 minutes, $3 for 30 minutes to 2 hours, $9 for 2 to 4 hours, and $10 for 4 to 6 hours. Vehicles on the premises for 6 to 24 hours incur a fee of $27. These fees are not expected to increase next month.
However, fees for extended parking at the airport will see a hike beginning May 1. Terminal parking is increasing from $27 per day to $32, express covered parking is increasing from $18 to $21, express uncovered parking will jump from $15 to $18, remote lot parking will go up from $12 to $14 per day, and valet rates will increase from $40 to $45 per day.
Days after DFW Airport announced the fee changes, the Dallas City Council approved increases to DFW Airport taxi fees. The minimum charge for terminal changes is increasing from $7 to $10, while trips that exit the airport parking plaza and end inside airport property will change from a minimum of $14.50 to $18.50. Trips from the airport parking plaza that end outside the airport property will incur a minimum charge of $22, up from $17, DMN reported.
Each year, DFW Airport welcomes over 73 million travelers, positioning it as one of the busiest airports globally. According to the airport’s website, the airport yields an economic impact of more than $37 billion annually.
