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DFW Airport Newsroom

DFW Sends Summer Off with a Busy Labor Day Weekend

1.4 million customers expected during the holiday travel period

DFW AIRPORT, Texas (Aug. 28, 2026)

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is ready for a busy Labor Day weekend, with approximately 1.4 million customers expected to travel to, through or from the airport between Sept. 3 and Sept. 8, an increase of approximately 7.2% over last year.

DFW expects its highest customer volumes on:

  • Monday, Sept. 7: 256,848 customers (busiest projected day)
  • Thursday, Sept. 3: 254,953 customers
  • Friday, Sept. 4: 249,873 customers

An average day at DFW sees approximately 225,000 customers. For customers beginning or ending their journey at DFW, Monday is also expected to be the busiest local travel day, with approximately 120,641 local customers, followed by Friday with approximately 113,723 local travelers.

Airport roadways, terminal curbs and parking facilities will be busiest during periods of heavy local travel. Customers should anticipate the most activity from early morning through midday across the holiday period, with Monday’s peak extending into the mid-afternoon and an additional evening peak expected Thursday.

Customers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and use DFW’s real-time digital tools to check live parking availability, security checkpoint wait times, and Prebooked Parking before heading to the airport.

DFW recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international departures, with additional time allowed for roadway traffic, parking and security screening.

Travel Smart this Labor Day

A little planning can make the last big travel weekend of summer a lot easier.

DFW offers a variety of tools to help customers move efficiently from curb to gate, including:

Customers can find these tools and more in the DFW Airport mobile app for iOS and Android and at DFWAirport.com.

More Choices this Labor Day

There’s plenty to discover before even taking off.

DFW has recently welcomed more than a dozen new dining, shopping and customer experiences just this year, including North Texas favorites like Brewed, Deep Ellum Brewing, Art-K-Texture and Lone Chimney Mercantile, alongside Whataburger, Raising Cane’s, Portillo’s and more.

They join more than 200 shopping, dining and service options across DFW, bringing travelers more choice and a little more local flavor at every terminal.

For those looking for a private and exclusive experience, DFW also offers more than 20 lounges and premium spaces, with new openings and expansions adding even more ways to recharge, enjoy specialty dining or focus on work.

And at DFW, your gate doesn’t have to limit your options. Skylink connects all five terminals inside security, giving customers the freedom to explore dining, shopping and eligible lounge experiences across the airport before it’s time to board.

Follow Curbside and Parking Guidelines

To help keep traffic moving during the holiday period, terminal curbs are reserved for active loading and unloading only.

Drivers waiting for arriving passengers should use designated cell phone lots or one-hour garage parking, available at no additional charge.

Customers are encouraged to Prebook Parking for the best rates and use TollTag lanes for the fastest entry and exit experience. Using a TollTag is often a much shorter wait at the control plazas, especially during peak periods.

Through the myDFW Rewards program, customers can also earn points on eligible Prebook Parking purchases that can be redeemed for future parking savings. New and existing customers who create or have a myDFW account by Sept. 30, 2026, will receive a 100-point bonus.

Consider Public Transit

Public transit offers another option for avoiding roadway congestion during busy travel periods:

  • DART Orange Line provides direct rail service between Terminal A and destinations including downtown Dallas, Las Colinas and Plano.
  • DART Silver Line connects customers to Terminal B from Plano, Richardson, Addison, Carrollton and Coppell.
  • Trinity Metro TEXRail provides direct service between downtown Fort Worth and Terminal B, with stops throughout Tarrant County.
  • Customers traveling on Trinity Railway Express can connect between CentrePort/DFW Airport Station and Terminal D using the TRE Link shuttle.

DFW now offers real-time arrival information on its website and mobile app for DART services and published schedules for TRE and TEXRail.

For travel tips, real-time airport information and parking reservations, visit DFWAirport.com/summer or download the DFW Airport mobile app for iOS and Android.

About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the most connected and busiest airports in the world. Centered between owner cities Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major economic engine and job generator for the North Texas region. The airport’s historic $12 billion capital plan – DFW Forward – is set to transform the customer experience and plan for the future with monumental upgrades and expansions underway across DFW’s terminals, airfield and roadway infrastructure.

For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Airport mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Follow @dfwairport on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.