Ft. Worth (WBAP/KLIF News) – Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport expects more than three million passengers to come through the airport around Christmas. Across the country, air travel is expected to increase about three and a half percent from last year.
“These are the folks who are a little unfamiliar with the airport, and they get slowed down a little bit, intimidated by the process,” says DFW’s Cynthia Vega.
DFW has brought in therapy dogs for passengers. The airport first started using therapy dogs in October. The dogs are trained to provide comfort and affection.
“I love dogs,” says one passenger who was flying to Chicago and stopped to pet a dog in Terminal D. “It’s like I have to pet every one I see.”
DFW has also added a “polar bear” to hand out small gifts to passengers in Terminals A and D.
Still, some passengers were upset at the time they spent waiting in line. One passenger said the line at security was short, but she spent almost an hour waiting at ticket counter.
“We got here two hours in advance and saw two huge lines,” says one passenger who was waiting for an American Airlines flight at Terminal D.
DFW says two million passengers came through the airport at Thanksgiving.
After the holidays, DFW will start installing automated systems at TSA checkpoints that aim to make lines move faster. The system will introduce larger bins that move through the screening process automatically.
The system is partially funded by American Airlines.
(Copyright 2016 WBAP/KLIF News. All rights reserved)
