Chris McLaughlin Cites 2.3% Drop at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is handling fewer travelers halfway through this fiscal year, with total passenger count down 2.3% against previous forecasts. CEO Chris McLaughlin told board members on May 7 that the airport is about 1 million travelers short of the 41.8 million projected to date.

McLaughlin on May 7

McLaughlin said airlines continue to feel pressure from the Iran War, while airfare increases are tied to the price and availability of jet fuel and lingering supply chain issues. He said the most significant industry impact has been the recent Spirit Airlines shutdown.

“Our heart goes out to the thousands of men and women who have had their careers impacted by this bankruptcy,” McLaughlin said. “Many of them work right here at DFW, and we know many of them personally. We meet with them on a regular basis, and we consider them our family.”

Doug Wilhelm, a member of the Fort Worth Report’s Documenters crew, attended the meeting.

DFW Revenue Pressure

The passenger decline is already cutting into parking fees and rental car revenue, two of the airport’s passenger-driven income sources. Landing fees paid to the airport have also declined.

McLaughlin said domestic and international carriers are reevaluating routes, timing, and frequencies, and he linked that shift to the pressure DFW is seeing. He also said the airport remains in positive financial territory overall.

Airline Route Changes

For travelers and airport users, the immediate change is operational: fewer passengers are moving through DFW than the airport had planned for, and that is showing up in the revenue streams tied to traffic. The airport’s own numbers put the shortfall at 2.3% halfway through the fiscal year, which leaves the focus on how airlines adjust routes and capacity as the year continues.