You credit American and Delta for making DFW work. But Dallas-based Braniff deserves to share in that credit, too.
When DFW opened, Braniff was the only airline that built out an entire "horseshoe"-shaped terminal. American's Terminal 3E was built between two-thirds and three-fourths of the full terminal area. Terminals 2E and 4E were each built out to no more than two-thirds of the full terminal space. And, at least for the first few years of DFW's operation Braniff operated the largest hub at the airport, proving that the airport, and its terminals, could work as a hub. In the late 1970s (1979-ish, IIRC) Braniff planned to build a full second horseshoe terminal (it would have been Terminal 3W), which would have been connected to its original 2W facility. Today's Terminal D stands where 3W would have been built.
There are many reasons why Braniff failed, but its failure can't be blamed on DFW airport or its terminals.
Loved this post. But, a minor nit.
You credit American and Delta for making DFW work. But Dallas-based Braniff deserves to share in that credit, too.
When DFW opened, Braniff was the only airline that built out an entire "horseshoe"-shaped terminal. American's Terminal 3E was built between two-thirds and three-fourths of the full terminal area. Terminals 2E and 4E were each built out to no more than two-thirds of the full terminal space. And, at least for the first few years of DFW's operation Braniff operated the largest hub at the airport, proving that the airport, and its terminals, could work as a hub. In the late 1970s (1979-ish, IIRC) Braniff planned to build a full second horseshoe terminal (it would have been Terminal 3W), which would have been connected to its original 2W facility. Today's Terminal D stands where 3W would have been built.
There are many reasons why Braniff failed, but its failure can't be blamed on DFW airport or its terminals.
Good points, Henry! I’ll add Braniff into that line — they very much were the first hub at DFW.