Dallas Love Field has completed its 2025 Master Plan, identifying development needs to support future aviation demand.
Serving as a major hub for Southwest Airlines, Dallas Love Field (DAL) is owned by the City of Dallas and was the city’s first airport. Now, officials are planning upgrades to keep up with rapid population growth. On August 20, the city announced the completion of the “2025 Master Plan: Love What’s Next.”
“Dallas Love Field has long been regarded as an airport that is easy to fly through, thanks to its relatively short walks, compact design, and inviting atmosphere,” said Lauren Rounds, communications manager for City of Dallas-Aviation, in a statement to The Dallas Express. “As we prepare to redevelop the facility, we keep those unique DAL elements at top of mind.”
The master plan identifies short, medium, and long-term development needs up to 20 years out, according to its website. While the plan considers the airfield, support facilities, and general aviation development, it mainly focuses on the airport terminals and roadways.
The plan is part of a larger project to increase the capacity of the airport – the Love Field Expansion Airport Program (LEAP). According to Rounds, LEAP will focus on expanding infrastructure like curb frontages, restrooms, concessions, hold room space, parking, rental car facilities, baggage systems, and roadways.
“Design is projected to begin in 2026 following approval from the Dallas City Council,” Rounds said.
Adjusting for Growth
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex added more than 177,000 residents from 2023 to 2024, reaching a total of 8.3 million, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. This made DFW America’s third-fastest-growing metro area.
The airport currently only has 20 gates, but “demand has outgrown the original projections,” according to the Love What’s Next website. The development process for the plan began with an “inventory” in October 202, and is scheduled to conclude with an airport layout plan, documentation, and FAA approval by December 2025.
The FAA recommends airports complete new master plans every 7-10 years, but the most recent plan was from 2015, while the airport was still considering the $519 million Love Field Modernization Program. According to the newest plan’s website, the 2015 plan “did not consider future terminal needs.”
Officials are now pursuing the LEAP plan to address the airport’s most relevant needs. This is a “transformative, multi-year capital improvement initiative,” according to a City of Dallas press release.
“The LEAP capital improvement initiative marks the most significant capital investment in Love Field’s history,” said Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert in the press release. “This initiative will help position the airport to meet rising passenger demand.”
Still, LEAP’s “financial feasibility” is “pending.” Its projected schedule would include six years of construction, with 14 “infrastructure development” projects, the press release states.
Officials are focused on “minimizing the impacts of construction” to airlines and passengers, according to Rounds. She acknowledged the inconveniences, but said “planning and preparation” can keep them to a minimum.
“The redevelopment will provide substantially higher levels of customer service to both the public and airport/airline staff, improved passenger experience through more comfortable gate areas, additional/new concession offerings, additional restrooms, new parking and rental car facilities, and higher resiliency from operational disruption,” Rounds said.
The Love Field update must still clear several hurdles – including the city council’s permission for the design process, and securing enough funding.