Love Field’s busiest runway to be rebuilt

Dallas Love Field is shutting down its busiest runway for a 10-month overhaul just as airline traffic ramps back up after a stagnant year.

Love Field is shuttering runway 13R-31L on Thursday for a complete rip-down and rebuild, which will give it just one active runway until February.

Until then, Southwest Airlines, Delta, Alaska and charter carriers will have to share a runway, which could cause delays as the airport heads into the busy travel season, said airport spokesman Christopher Perry.

Airlines are anticipating an increase in traffic over the summer holidays, including Southwest Airlines, headquartered at Love Field. The airport has nearly 10,000 incoming and outgoing flights on major carriers set for May and nearly 12,000 for June, the busiest the airport has been since the COVID-19 pandemic started over a year ago.

The $141 million project will be paid for through Federal Aviation Administration grants, passenger facilities charges and a long-term bond.