The DFW Airport’s board of directors kicked off the new year by examining progress toward their commitment to reach ‘net zero’ carbon emissions.
Net zero, a certification known as Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5, is achieved by reducing emissions from airport-owned equipment and purchased electricity by more than 90% from a baseline, while working with supply chain and airline partners to reduce and ultimately offset their emissions. DFW Airport today is accredited at Level 4.
Robert Horton, the airport’s vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability, provided a report to the board at its Jan. 8 meeting detailing accomplished efforts and the road map ahead.
The airport published its first sustainability plan in 2014. In 2016, the airport reached a carbon neutrality milestone, making it the first airport in North America to do so. In 2020, the commitment was made to reach carbon net zero by 2030.
The airport established 2010 as the baseline year, which saw the airport emit close to 180,000 metric tons of carbon. Between then and the end of 2024, the airport said it reduced its emissions by 78%, with the biggest impact coming from a transition in 2016 to purchasing electricity from 100% renewable sources.
Horton said the primary target areas for achieving the remaining reductions include facility heating, vehicles and refrigerant loss.
The airport currently uses natural gas systems for heating, which are being replaced by a new electric central utility plant that will be powered by 100% renewable electricity.
This change alone will generate most of the reductions needed to reach the net zero target, with the remaining reductions coming from the procurement of vehicles that use renewable natural gas and diesel fuel and switching to less harmful refrigerant with control measures to limit leakage, Horton said.
DFW Airport Board Meeting
Date: Jan. 8, 2026
Documenter: Doug Wilhelm
In response to a question from Mattie Parker, Fort Worth mayor and board member, about cross-training opportunities, Horton said that — in Texas — DFW Airport has partnered with Dallas Love Field and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to help them with carbon reduction techniques.
“We’ve reached across the globe and work with airports on every continent in the world to help them with their journey, and we’ve learned a lot from them as well,” Horton said.
In commending the efforts of Horton and his staff, board member Vincent Hall said, “I am so enamored with the fact that we pay more than just lip service to this issue.”
New board member and chief operating officer announced
Monica Lira Bravo was sworn in as a new member of the airport board following her appointment by the Dallas City Council on Dec. 10. Bravo is the founder and managing attorney of Lira Bravo Law and is certified in immigration and nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Jerome Woodard was announced as the new chief operating officer, filling the role that was vacated when Chris McLaughlin became CEO. Woodard most recently served as the COO of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
Holiday travel and airport roadway improvements
A total 4.4 million passengers passed through the airport over the two-week holiday period in December, up 2.2% from the previous year. A new ramp into Terminal A opened in December 2025, and work has begun on a new ramp into Terminal C, with a goal of completing it before the FIFA World Cup 2026 brings millions of visitors to North Texas in June.
Tribute
McLaughlin paid tribute to Charles “Alan” Works, a DFW Airport police sergeant who passed away after a medical emergency while on-duty on Christmas Eve.
Works joined the DFW Police Airport Police Department in April 2020 and was promoted to sergeant in August 2022. “During his time, he was widely respected for his professionalism, his steady leadership and commitment to service,” McLaughlin said.
Expenditures approved
In board business, new committee expenditures of $635.9M were approved, focused primarily on Terminal F and Skylink construction.
The board also approved reimbursements of $112.7M to American Airlines for Terminal C, D and F design and construction services as well as security checkpoint equipment under their established cost-sharing partnership.
Continued Avelo Airlines concerns
In the public comment portion of the meeting, Dahj Voytek of Dallas County, Brian Patman of Haltom City, Liz Mendoza of Irving, and John Putnam of Dallas spoke about concerns related to Avelo Airlines and their performance of deportation flights, however all acknowledged that Avelo has said it is terminating its relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the end of January.
Voytek and Mendoza challenged the board to issue a public statement condemning any airline that accepts a deportation contract.
Patman stated concerns with the tactics ICE employs when detaining and deporting immigrants, especially children, and Putnam implored the board to show leadership on the issue.
McLaughlin acknowledged that this was the third time the board has heard public comments related to Avelo and wanted to clarify that “Avelo has definitively shared with us that they have never, and have no intentions of ever flying a DHS (Department of Homeland Security) chartered flight out of DFW, and as the speakers noted, they have, in fact, confirmed to us that they are canceling their contract with DHS as of the 27th of this month.”
He also added that since the airport receives federal funding, it is bound by Federal Aviation Administration regulations to accommodate air carriers at its facility.
McLaughlin encouraged those with continued concerns to address them to the FAA as the governing body, but closed by saying, “I absolutely acknowledge the passion and the concerns and appreciate you using this forum to share those concerns.”
Doug Wilhelm is a member of the Fort Worth Report’s Documenters crew.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at news@fortworthreport.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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