FLY TO THE TOP

Dallas-Fort Worth International soars as world's 5th best airport, report says

DFW Airport soared to the top of the rankings.

Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt

A new study by aviation experts has determined that the second-busiest airport in the world is also one of the best: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport soared through the ranks, landing at No. 5 in Cabin Crew HQ's 2023 "Best Airports in the World" report.

DFW was deemed the second busiest airport due to its high overall passenger count - more than 73.36 million people.

"Airports are the unsung establishments in an ever-evolving globalized world we all share a bitter-sweet relationship," the report says. "Lost baggage, delayed flights, transit recreation, and accommodating or unaccommodating staff make up a huge chunk of every passenger's experience around the globe."

The study looked at several different metrics to determine their rankings: passenger count, the average percentage of on-time flights, the most economical parking fees, the cost to drop-off a traveler, and the variety of restaurants and shops on site. The study endeavored to come up with the world's most economical, timely, and shopper-friendly airports.

On average, 75 percent of DFW flights are on time, the report says. For comparison, 88.4 percent of flights at Tokyo International Airport (No. 1) are on time.

Dropping off a traveler at DFW is fairly cheap; the shortest available parking slot costs $2, according to the study. As for weeklong parking fees, that will set travelers back by $105.

DFW also has a combined 191 restaurants and shops on its premises.

DFW was the only Texas airport to land in the top five. Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport ranked No. 6.

The top 10 best airports in 2023 are:

No. 1 – Tokyo International Airport
No. 2 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
No. 3 – O-Hare International Airport
No. 4 – Mexico City International Airport
No. 5 – Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
No. 6 – George Bush Intercontinental Airport
No. 7 – Indira Gandhi International Airport
No. 8 – Denver International Airport
No. 9 – Istanbul International Airport
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Cabin Crew Headquarters (or HQ) is a site "dedicated to providing aspiring cabin crew members with all the information they need to pursue their dream career," the website says.

dfw airport travel reports

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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