DFW Airport’s board of directors wrapped up its year with a review of the impact the airport makes across North Texas with an update by CEO Chris McLaughlin at their Dec. 4 meeting.
Economic impact
The value of goods and services produced across the region as a result of the airport being in operation rose to $78 billion in 2024 from $46 billion in 2014, according to an economic impact analysis completed by The Perryman Group that was unveiled a day earlier at the fifth annual Skift Aviation Forum in Fort Worth. The airport and American Airlines hosted the forum.
“We are now impacting the lives of 684,000 employees across North Texas that work closely with DFW every single day, and we’re really proud again to have that impact on our community,” McLaughlin said.
DFW Airport Board Meeting
Documenter name: Doug Wilhelm
Date: Dec. 4
See more about this meeting at documenters.org.
United Way
DFW raised $426,000 for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the United Way of Tarrant County over six weeks ending in October that included employee donations and proceeds from an annual golf tournament fundraiser.
Veterans card drive
In response to radio station New Country 96.3’s annual Veterans Day card drive, DFW Airport employees wrote and signed 7,000 cards destined for delivery to U.S. troops around the world.
“These efforts continue to be a reflection of DFW culture of caring for our veterans, and we want to thank all veterans for their service to our country,” McLaughlin said.
New airport hotel
Working with Hyatt Hotels, ground was broken Nov. 10 for a 130-room residence-style Hyatt House south of the airport’s terminals, adjacent to the existing Hyatt Place. This project was conceived in 2019, but was placed on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bond Buyer’s award
DFW has been named 2025 winner of Bond Buyer’s Southwest Deal of the Year award, sponsored by The Bond Buyer, a publication that covers municipal finance. DFW was recognized for a $1.967 billion revenue bond issuance that is partially funding its $12 billion capital program, including the construction of the new Terminal F. This was the airport’s second consecutive Southwest win and sixth overall recognition in the award’s 24-year history.
Expenditures approved
The board approved expenditures of $103.1 million, focused primarily on Terminal F and Skylink station construction and security and law enforcement enhancements. The board also approved 2025 incentive compensation payments and 2026 incentive compensation goals for McLaughlin and the director of audit services.
Avelo Airlines challenged
In the public comment portion of the meeting, the board was challenged by two speakers to reconsider operations by Avelo Airlines at DFW Airport. Avelo provides commercial service between DFW and New Haven, Connecticut, but has also been contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to perform chartered deportation flights from other airports in the United States.
Brian Patman of Haltom City, relayed a story from April 2025 involving Reachel Alexas Morales-Valle, an immigrant mother from Honduras who was deported with her two children, both U.S. citizens and one who was undergoing treatment in the U.S. for kidney cancer.
Patman appealed to the board to bar Avelo from operating at DFW Airport if they do not terminate their contract with ICE.
Liz Mendoza from Irving raised concern about Avelo’s compliance with safety regulations in execution of their contracts with ICE and challenged their ability to conduct an emergency evacuation
because deportees are typically shackled with handcuffs and leg irons. She also cited reports that deportees have been refused restroom access on planes that have been extensively delayed for maintenance or other logistical reasons.
Mendoza also asked the board to consider if Avelo should be allowed to continue their commercial operations from DFW Airport.
Board Chair DeMetris Sampson thanked Patman and Mendoza for their comments. A DFW spokesperson told the Fort Worth Report that the airport does not have information or authority over Avelo’s arrangements with the federal government, and that further questions should be directed to the airline.
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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