Improvements and traveler tips help avoid holiday traffic congestion
DFW AIRPORT, Texas, Dec. 16, 2024
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is preparing for its busiest winter holiday season on record, with an estimated 4.7 million passengers traveling through the airport from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7. This marks a 2.4% increase from last year’s holiday period and reflects the growing demand for air travel in North Texas.
The busiest travel days are projected to be the weekends before and after the Christmas holiday, with Friday, Dec. 20, anticipated to be the busiest day as DFW welcomes more than 265,000 customers.
With record-breaking passenger numbers expected, vehicle traffic at the airport is also growing rapidly. Peak travel times, particularly evenings and weekends, can lead to temporary traffic congestion as a high number of vehicles enter the airport in a short timeframe. The hours of 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 saw the highest volume of vehicles in DFW’s 50-year history. The impact of peak evening hours is especially prevalent at Terminal C, which is being rebuilt over the next several years. One of three parking garages at Terminal C has been closed and has associated roadway closures.
While efforts are in place to minimize impacts during peak travel times, construction zones in key areas such as International Parkway and Terminal C may also contribute to temporary bottlenecks. Travelers should allow extra time to navigate these areas and exercise caution when driving through work zones for the safety of working construction crews and other vehicles. Congestion can take place at any terminal during the busiest times, typically between 5-9 p.m.
DFW is actively working to balance immediate traffic management needs with long-term enhancements to better serve its customers and the community.
What DFW is doing:
- Enhanced traffic control: Extra officers will patrol terminal roadways, curbs and garages, managing traffic flow and enforcing curbside rules. Crosswalks at all terminals will be staffed during high-volume hours to maintain safe and efficient traffic movement. The airport has more than 4.6 miles of terminal curbs, making it important for travelers to follow curbside rules.
- Traffic flow improvements: Temporary barriers and signage will redirect traffic in congested areas, particularly at Terminals B and C, to ease bottlenecks. Officers will be placed at key intersections to move traffic more quickly. Additional signage will remind drivers that passengers can be picked up or dropped off on either the upper or lower levels.
- Optimized parking and rideshare management: Overflow parking options and new rideshare traffic plans are being implemented to reduce curbside congestion.
- Roadway construction moratorium: While construction zones may cause temporary bottlenecks, DFW continues to institute its holiday construction moratorium to ensure minimal disruptions during peak holiday-period travel days.
What travelers can do:
Passengers can play an essential role in reducing traffic delays by following these tips:
- Arrive early: Plan to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights to allow time for parking, check-in, and security screening.
- Use public transit:
- DART’s Orange Line provides direct access to Terminal A.
- TEXRail connects riders to Terminal B.
- Trinity Railway Express offers service from Dallas and Fort Worth to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, with terminal access via the TRE Link shuttle.
- For details on transit schedules and fares, visit DART or Trinity Metro.
- Use Express and Remote lots: Shuttle service from the airport’s Express and Remote parking lots provide quick access to the terminals while helping to alleviate terminal traffic. Shuttles to the terminals reduce vehicle traffic by as many as eight vehicles per trip.
- Follow curbside rules: Curbside areas are designated for active loading and unloading only. Vehicles stopping or parking in traffic lanes will be redirected by airport police. Travelers waiting to pick up passengers should use the cell phone lots until their party is ready for curbside pickup. Stopping is limited to the time needed to load or unload passengers at the curb. Stopping in any other lanes is not allowed, is unsafe, and causes delays.
- Pick-up in the garages: Offering convenience for longer pick-ups or drop-offs, including one-hour parking options, the terminal garages allow customers to stop for longer times outside of traffic.
- Use the DFW Mobile App: Prebook parking, view live parking availability, check security wait times, and access other personalized features through a MyDFW account.
- Be traffic aware: Use online traffic maps and tools to check road conditions and travel times. Build in appropriate transit times to arrive at the airport ahead of your flight. For the latest updates on traffic, parking, and construction, visit dfwairport.com/construction or download the DFW Airport mobile app.
About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the world’s busiest and most connected airports. Celebrating 50 years of service in 2024, DFW is proud to be not only a major port for North America but also a vital community asset. Centered between its owner cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, it serves as a major economic engine generating jobs and attracting businesses. DFW is committed to providing exceptional customer service and in 2023 was named the best large airport for customer satisfaction in North America by Airports Council International. A leader in sustainability, DFW is the world’s largest and North America’s first carbon-neutral airport. In 2023, DFW Airport served over 80 million passengers and offered more than 250 global destinations. For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Mobile App for iOS and Android devices.Follow @dfwairport on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn