Airport News

Heliport at convention center in downtown Dallas closes for rebuilding

Vertiport

Helicopter Dallas

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the temporary closure of the Dallas Vertiport, located adjacent to the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, effective July 24.

This closure will allow the facility's demolition and reconstruction as part of the multi-year project to build a new and expanded convention center in the Central Business District, as City of Dallas officials announced in 2022.

Located on the south end of the convention center, the Dallas Vertiport is the world's largest urban elevated Heliport/Vertiport. It has a dual deck that accommodates three helicopters plus two vertical-take-off and landing aircraft.

Construction for the new facility will begin after the vertiport's closure, with work projected to start by late 2025.

Once completed, the site will feature an entirely new infrastructure, according to the City of Dallas Department of Aviation, which manages the vertiport, Dallas Love Field, and Dallas Executive Airport.

While the airport layout plan is still in progress, the new vertiport will have similar square footage and design. It will meet current FAA vertiport design criteria and incorporate upgrades such as:

Emerging electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requirements
Expanded aircraft parking capacity from five to six positions
A reimagined passenger lobby and on-site vehicle parking

"This facility has served as a valuable asset to the city for over 30 years, and we are excited to rebuild it to guarantee long-term adaptability and operational readiness," says Rafael Garza, General Aviation Manager for the Department of Aviation, in a statement.

The Dallas Vertiport accommodates a variety of general aviation operations, including military training, sightseeing, law enforcement missions, aerial photography, and more. It sees frequent use by businesses in downtown Dallas, with corporate flights, recreational flying, law enforcement, sight-seeing, aerial photography, flight training, and military training. It also hosts the HAI Heli Expo every four years, attracting more than 400 attendees.

This is the first time the vertiport has been closed since it opened in 1994. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029.

downtown transportation

Airport News

DFW Airport seeks local restaurants to fill 14 new open slots

Manning

DFW Airport restaurants

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is seeking new restaurants who want to open a location on the premises. According to a release, the airport has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting local brands and flavors to apply for 14 retail and dining locations across multiple terminals.

“As we build new gates, reimagine existing spaces and construct a new Terminal F, DFW Airport is committed to showcasing our region through our shops and restaurants so that when people travel through our terminals, there’s no denying they have arrived in the heart of Dallas and Fort Worth,” says DFW Chief Revenue Officer Ken Buchanan in a statement. “DFW serves tens of millions of travelers each year, and this is a chance for local businesses to help create an incredible sense of place within our terminals.”

The RFP is open for submissions now through February 2, 2026, and includes 11 food and beverage opportunities and three specialty retail locations across Terminals A, B, E, and F.

Concepts range from fast-casual, fast-food, and grab-and-go concepts to frozen treats, popcorn, cosmetics, and specialty retail.

All proposal submissions must be made through the Bonfire Procurement Platform.

DFW welcomed approximately 87 million customers in 2024, with continued growth projected to surpass 100 million passengers per year before 2030.

The latest RFP opportunity comes as DFW continues to make progress on its $12 billion capital improvement plan, DFW Forward, which is transforming terminals, expanding gate capacity and enhancing the customer experience across the entire airport. In addition to the new Terminal F, DFW is rebuilding Terminal C and expanding gate areas in Terminals A and C – projects that will introduce modern spaces, new amenities and a stronger platform for small and local businesses to grow inside one of the world’s busiest airports.

airport openings