What’s Next at Love Field? Easier Access, Better Flow With Expansion Plan

Changes are coming to Dallas Love Field now that the airport’s 2025 master plan — branded “Love What’s Next” — is in the books. At a July 2025 open house, city officials explained and narrowed down the options for many of the proposed changes.

For context, the master plan is essentially the airport’s roadmap: a federally required, comprehensive study of the facility that lays out short-, medium-, and long-term development needs. The planning process, which began in 2023, helps the city and airport anticipate future passenger demand and decide what upgrades to prioritize.

With one final open house scheduled before the end of 2025, the city is now moving into the next phase: the Love Field Expansion Airport Program (LEAP). While the master plan identifies what needs to happen, LEAP is the capital program that could actually deliver those projects. Officials haven’t put a price tag on LEAP yet, but they say it will be the airport’s largest capital investment.

The airport’s last major overhaul came between 2009 and 2015, when Love Field got a brand-new terminal with 20 gates. That expansion cost $519 million.

“The LEAP capital improvement initiative marks the most significant capital investment in Love Field’s history,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “This initiative will help position the airport to meet rising passenger demand.”

Easier Access In and Out of Love Field

One of the most noticeable changes for travelers will be how they enter and exit the airport. Two new flyovers are planned to help reduce congestion on Mockingbird Lane and Herb Kelleher Way, the main access road.

• From the west: drivers will take a flyover above Mockingbird and airport parking that merges directly onto Herb Kelleher Way.
• From the east: entry will stay the same, turning right off Mockingbird onto Herb Kelleher Way.
• Exiting to the east: travelers will use a new flyover to merge onto Mockingbird.
• Exiting to the west: drivers will continue to leave via Herb Kelleher Way and turn right onto Mockingbird.

A New Terminal Experience

Inside the airport, travelers will see the biggest improvements at the terminal. With the new Garage C open, Garage A will be demolished to make way for a reconfigured terminal area.

Departing passengers will have more space for drop-offs and will move through ticketing and security in one streamlined location before heading to their gates. The design aims to boost efficiency and handle more passengers without long backups.

For arriving passengers, baggage claim and ground transportation will be in the same location. Travelers parked in Garage B or C will be able to grab their bags and walk along covered paths to their cars — no more dragging suitcases up stairs or escalators.

“LEAP is our long-term action plan to be future-focused. We intend to make Dallas Love Field not just a more comfortable airport, but a truly exceptional one for the next 20 years,” said Patrick Carreno, Director of Aviation for Dallas Love Field. “This program will ensure that the needs of our passengers, employees, and community are at the forefront of our operations and infrastructure.” 

LEAP’s design phase will begin in 2026, and construction is expected to start in 2027.