DFW Airport changes are about customer satisfaction

By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News

DALLAS/FT. WORTH – In a request to the D/FW Airport Communications team a breakdown of new businesses owned by women, and minorities as well as details on the smaller business chains went unanswered.

These days travelers want to know more than just the statistics on a superficial facelift.

People overall are increasingly more aware of travel options that offer the chance to stay health conscious while on the road.

Vincenzo Maggio who lives in New York said, “When I travel, I like to know who owns the restaurants. It is important that we do not break eating healthy just because we are on vacation.”

Zachary Greiner, External Communications Manager at D/FW Airport said he was unable to answer the questions for this article regarding the women, minority and small business owner questions in an email because, “This is a very comprehensive and complex request that gets into multiple business areas that are entering the busiest season of the year and so we have to politely decline to participate at this time.”

Greiner did send links to information available at D/FW Airport’s website, but specific answers to vendors and businesses were not answered in this format. 

Recently, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (D/FW) has completed its long-time $3 billion plan to expand Terminal C. This was done by moving six megastructure modules across the airfield and into place at the site of the expansion that will welcome nine new gates in 2026.

Also working alongside American Airlines, the airport will be part of a 115,000-sq.-ft. expansion in Terminal C that includes three phases to completely change the terminal’s current footprint.

Travelers will also find the adjacent parking garage is being reconstructed to eventually offer more parking in conjunction with the terminal expansion.

As for what travelers will find within the five terminals due to all the construction and changes, according to the D/FW Airport website the airport features one of the largest concession programs in North America. That includes 252,000 square-feet spread out within the five terminals offering over 200 shops and restaurants. These businesses operate through lease agreements between the Airport and approximately 60 different private companies.

Businesses at the airport are chosen by the Selection Committee according to the airport’s website, made up of executives from five Airport departments, plus a review by the Finance and Business Diversity & Development Departments.

According to the airport’s website, “Committee members review each proposal and sometimes invite proposers in for interviews in cases where two or more proposals are close in scoring. The Selection Committee makes a recommendation to the Airport Board, which either accepts or rejects the Committee’s recommendation.”

Airport Board officials did not respond to a request for comment regarding the future for the airport and how airport culture has changed and is changing.

However, Greiner did point toward the Airport website for that answer as well where it reads “Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport creates and sustains a business environment that enables disadvantaged, minority and women-owned business enterprises (D/M/WBE) to compete fairly for business opportunities and achieve economic success, contributing to DFW’s overall mission of expanding economic benefits.”

I prefer smaller airports myself,” said Dallas resident Terrance Murphy. “Larger airports like D/FW offer food and shops, but I don’t really care about that since I prefer an easy-in and easy-out experience with ease of movement and healthier choices that does not include unhealthy food chains.”

Terminal A

• Chick-fil-A, first 24-hour location in a major U.S. airport, operating Monday through Saturday, Terminal A Pier
• Salad and Go, the first airport location with healthy salads, bowls and sandwiches, Terminal A Pier
• Mesero, Mexican, American fusion food, opens first location in a U.S. airport, Terminal A
• Olivella’s Pizzeria, Gate A14
• Ciao & Go, Terminal A Pier
• Minute Suites, Gate A38
• Mozart’s Bakehouse, scratch-made pastries and shakes, Terminal A Pier

Terminal B

• Nekter Juice Bar, first in U.S. Airport, Gate B10
• LaLa Land Kind Cafe, Gate B43
• Raising Cane, first Dallas-Fort Worth location open 24/7, Gate B19
• Whataburger with self-order kiosks, Gate B40
• Piada Italian Street Food, first U.S. airport location, Gate B14

Terminal C

• Velvet Taco, Terminal Pier C
• Bluebonnet Exchange, Terminal C Pier
• The Peach Cobbler Factory, Terminal C Pie

Terminal D

• Lone Chimney Mercantile, gifts made by local artists, Gate D33
• Minutes Suites, Gate D23

Terminal E

• Brewed coffee and pastries, Gate E19
• Sundance Travel Essentials, Gate E36
• Flyer’s Market, Gate E38