Love Field

Love Field. It is a major public airport located in Dallas, Texas, approximately six miles northwest of the city's central business district. Owned by the City of Dallas and operated by the Dallas Department of Aviation, it serves as the headquarters and primary hub for Southwest Airlines. The airport's history is deeply intertwined with the growth of commercial aviation in the United States and it remains a key transportation facility for the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

History

The airfield was established in 1917 as a training base for the United States Army Air Service during World War I, named for Moss L. Love, a United States Army aviator who died in a crash. After the war, it transitioned to civilian use, becoming a crucial stop for early airmail routes operated by carriers like Braniff International Airways. The airport gained national prominence in the 1930s as a base for American Airlines and was a major departure point for the Douglas DC-3. Its most pivotal moment came on November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy departed from here before his assassination in Dealey Plaza. The subsequent growth of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 led to the Wright Amendment, which restricted long-haul flights, a limitation fought for decades by Herb Kelleher and Southwest Airlines before its eventual repeal.

Facilities

The airport covers 1,300 acres and features two parallel runways, 13L/31R and 13R/31L. The primary passenger facility is the modernized Love Field Terminal, which underwent a major redevelopment project completed in 2014. This terminal complex includes the 20-gate Southwest Airlines concourse and the seven-gate Legend Concourse, which houses carriers like Delta Air Lines. Ground transportation is facilitated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit via the Inwood/Love Field Station, and numerous rental car agencies operate on-site. The airport also houses the Frontiers of Flight Museum, which chronicles aviation history with artifacts related to the Apollo program and World War II.

Airlines and destinations

As the operational heart of Southwest Airlines, the airport offers an extensive network of domestic flights, making it one of the busiest airports in Texas. Southwest's destinations from here span major cities like Chicago (Midway), Denver, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles (LAX). Other significant carriers include Delta Air Lines, offering service to its hub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Alaska Airlines, providing routes to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. Limited international service is available to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean under the provisions of the Wright Amendment reform. Cargo operations are handled by carriers such as FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has been the site of several notable aviation accidents. A significant early crash occurred in 1949 when a Braniff International Airways Douglas DC-6 crashed on takeoff, killing all aboard. In 1968, a Braniff International Airways Lockheed L-188 Electra crashed while attempting to return to the airport, resulting in numerous fatalities. Perhaps the most historically significant incident was the 1972 crash of a Texas International Airlines Convair 600 shortly after departure, which led to important changes in aircraft design and pilot training protocols. These events are documented in investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board.

In popular culture

The airport is famously referenced in the lyrics of the 1967 Leiber and Stoller song "Love Field (song)", performed by The Champs. It served as a key setting in the 1996 film The Evening Star, a sequel to Terms of Endearment. The airport's history, particularly its connection to the John F. Kennedy assassination, has been explored in numerous documentaries and series, including episodes of CNN's The Sixties (U.S. TV series). Its iconic signage and role as the home of Southwest Airlines have made it a recognizable landmark in films and television shows set in Dallas.

Category:Airports in Texas Category:1917 establishments in Texas Category:Dallas