DFW Airport has begun discussions for its 2022 budget. The proposed budget for the next fiscal year would be $1.02 billion, a six percent increase from 2021.
The budget would include $567 million for operations and $468 million for debt service.
"Obviously, this budget was put together before the Delta variant become a little more prevalent," says Chief Financial Officer Chris Poinsatte.
Poinsatte says DFW Airport still has $161 million in unused federal relief money.
"Should we need more cushion to balance the budget, we have that in reserve," he says.
This year, DFW forecasts a total of 53.1 million passengers, up from 47.4 million last year but less than the 73.3 million in 2019.
The airport expects a 26.5% increase in passengers next year. That forecast of 67.2 million passengers is 8.3% lower than 2019, but DFW expects full recovery in 2023.
Poinsatte says Turkish Airways will begin non-stop service four times a week from DFW September 24. American Airlines will begin non-stop service to Tel Aviv three times a week October 30.
The board also authorized a contract to build additional gates in Terminals A and C. The plan would add five gates in Terminal A and four in Terminal C.
The contract for $140 million would pay for design and construction of the expansion. The added gates in Terminals A and C would give American Airlines more space to expand since plans for a sixth terminal were delayed during the worst of the pandemic last year.
DFW Airport had been planning to build a $3 billion Terminal F. The terminal would be built with 25 gates, but plans were halted last year as air traffic dropped.
The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022 will now be sent to the cities and airlines. The DFW Airport board will adopt the budget in September.
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