The Dallas Express previously reported that a runway at Dallas Love Field will undergo safety upgrades, leading to its closure for almost three months. Travelers have been advised about potential flight delays during construction, which is expected to conclude on October 29.
“Customers are advised to check flight statuses with their respective airlines for potential delays. During this period, area residents may experience an increase in noise exposure,” stated Dallas Love Field’s press release.
Noise exposure has been a consistent concern for residents who live near the airport, and now Dallas Love Field is seeking input on its proposed master plan. A meeting date has been set, and there’s much to discuss!
Love Field neighbors have put together a priority list to present at the Thursday, August 29 meeting at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave, per Candy’sDirt. The meeting will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Here is the priority list outlined by Candy’sDirt:
Love Field Neighbors Set Priority List
During a late July conference call, Love Field neighbors identified “big-ticket items” they want to present to Love Field administrators, policymakers, and legislators. Their priorities include:
Data produced by outside consultants Ricondo & Associates for the ongoing Love Field Terminal Area Master Plan update process forecasts passenger enplanements to increase from this year’s projected 10.1 million to a plateau of around 11.9 million by 2035-2040. Since Dallas Love Field is capped at 20 gates the options for accommodating this increased traffic are 1) bigger aircraft capacity, 2) more flights, and/or 3) expanded operating hours (in other words, potentially modifying the voluntary curfew). More flights and longer hours are obviously what concerns us the most.
Southwest is rolling out “redeye” flights at five airports. And while Dallas Love Field is not one of the initial groups, it’s still creating more than a little unease about the future for those of us in Love Field noise-affected neighborhoods.
Activist investor group Elliot Management (which now owns a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines) is seeking profound management and operational changes at Southwest Airlines with the stated goal of increasing shareholder value. Given the history of many activist investor groups to maximize profits at the expense of virtually all else, this is yet another question mark concerning Southwest’s future willingness to abide by the voluntary commitments they’ve made to Love Field noise-affected communities.
The current Love Field Gate Use and Lease Agreements renew in September 2028 and the City of Dallas is working with a specialty law firm to draft the new lease agreements. Currently, the voluntary 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is codified in the lease agreement and it’s our goal to ensure it remains so in the new lease agreement.
Love Field Master Plan
According to the Love Field website, the purpose of the DAL Master Plan is to complete a comprehensive airport study that identifies short-, medium–, and long-term (20-year) development needed to support future aviation demand.