Just as settlers and frontiersmen founded its home state of Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is recognised as a pioneer of the airport city phenomenon and after years of planning and utilising its more than 7,000 hectares of land, DFW has produced an enviable portfolio of non-aeronautical assets. 

Long at the forefront of this trend in the airport industry, DFW has recruited global business tenants to bolster its non-aviation revenues, whilst also making an important contribution to the Texan economy.

"DFW is a central force behind the growth of Texas into one of the nation's most prosperous and international economies," says Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. 

"Airports are a magnet for businesses and developments that cater to air cargo and passenger services, and with more than 7,000 hectares of land, DFW has the unique ability to attract this type of economic activity, while operating a world-class facility for travellers," adds Fegan.

DFW is already home to a number of buildings and developments, notably its 150 hectare International Commerce Park, a large number of private warehouse and/or distribution centres, two 18-hole golf courses and a pair of high quality hotels - the Grand Hyatt DFW and the Hyatt Regency DFW.

In 2006, the Barnett Shale gas reserve was found to extend underneath the airport, providing a new source of potential revenue, and today, 112 gas wells operate around Dallas/Fort Worth.

Also in 2006 a gas exploration lease agreement was inked with Chesapeake Energy, setting aside hundreds of hectares of the airport's property for the drilling, with the airport taking a share of the proceeds.

This has netted the airport an initial $186 million bonus at signing and DFW has averaged about $27 million in additional oil and gas annual revenues which has been set aside for future capital developments.

In addition, DFW has attracted many of the typical aviation-related developments found on airport properties throughout the world, including air cargo distribution centres for cargo airlines and freight forwarders, such as UPS and FedEx and aircraft maintenance hangars operated by American Airlines.

The gateway has also heavily invested in its own infrastructure for the convenience of passengers by building a very successful consolidated rental car centre in 2000, and by setting aside land and terminal garage space capable of holding up to 40,000 parked vehicles on airport grounds.

"Upon seeing the success of our airport, other airports around the world are now also seizing on the opportunity to bring new services to their guests and bring new jobs and businesses to their communities," says Fegan.