DFW Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport CEO Sean Donohue is retiring, the airport announced on Tuesday.
The decision presumably marks the end of a 40-year career in aviation.
“It’s with mixed emotions that I have decided the time has come to pass the torch at DFW and begin a new chapter in my own life, after four decades of service to the aviation industry,” Donohue said in a statement. “Aviation has taken me to nearly every corner of the world and led me to the great privilege of overseeing the best airport in the business.”
The DFW Airport Board of Directors will initiate a global search for Donohue's successor, according to a press release.
Since joining DFW in 2013, Donohue has overseen significant growth and development, strengthening DFW’s position as a key transportation hub that connects the North Texas region to more than 250 destinations on five continents.
His leadership helped shape DFW’s strategic vision, enhancing its operational efficiency, customer service and economic impact. During his tenure as its CEO, DFW grew to become the third-busiest airport in the world and became the world’s largest and North America’s first carbon-neutral airport.
DFW today is in the strongest financial position in its 50-year history, having emerged from the global pandemic faster than many other global hubs. Under Donohue’s leadership, no employees were furloughed during the pandemic’s impacts on aviation, allowing the airport to continue serving vital transportation and cargo needs while preparing for the return of travelers.
The airport marked its 50th birthday this year after yearslong negotiations and agitating between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Fort Worth Mayor Bayard Friedman was the city’s chief negotiator with a city of Dallas delegation to hammer out an agreement for a shared airport authority that had the power to tax, build, operate, and maintain a regional airport.
DFW has been the most consequential economic development project in Fort Worth’s history and the entire region. The airport supports more than $38 billion in annual payroll, 634,000 jobs and generates $5 billion in local and state taxes each year.
DFW’s passenger traffic in FY2024 is expected to reach a record of nearly 87 million passengers, an increase of nearly 19% compared with 73.3 million passengers in FY2019. During this time of unprecedented growth, Airports Council International named DFW as the best large airport in North America for customer satisfaction for the last two consecutive years.
Donohue also oversaw the completion of a historic 10-year use and lease agreement with the airlines that serve DFW. That agreement set the stage for the airport’s $9 billion capital improvement program, “DFW Forward,” which will reimagine Terminal C, construct a new Terminal F and make many more improvements to roads and other airport facilities through the end of the decade. DFW also remains on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions before 2030 – more than 20 years ahead of industry goals.
“Sean Donohue is a remarkable leader who has pushed DFW airport to even greater heights during his decade-long tenure as CEO of one of the world’s most successful airports,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “His dedication has left a lasting impact on Fort Worth, North Texas, and the airport itself. I thank him for his outstanding service and wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement, knowing that DFW Airport’s future is bright, thanks to the foundation he built.”
Prior to joining DFW, Donohue had a 29-year career in the airline industry, having held key executive roles with Virgin Australia Airlines and United Airlines. His dedication and expertise within the aviation sector is recognized globally, and he serves as the co-chair of the Aviation and Aerospace Committee as part of the World Economic Forum.
Donohue said he expects to remain with the airport until next year and will support the transition as the search for his successor is underway.
“Around the world DFW Airport is known among the best in the aviation industry, and that reputation has been earned in no small part due to the steadfast leadership of CEO Sean Donohue,” said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “The city of Dallas commends Sean on his decade-long tenure at DFW, and for the growth and prosperity that DFW has created for our city, region, and communities. I wish him well in retirement and I know that he leaves the airport in a position of strength as we move into DFW’s next chapter.”
Said Donohue: “In many ways, the story of DFW and North Texas are the same, having grown and supported one another for 50 years. I thank Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, the DFW Board of Directors led by Chair DeMetris Sampson, along with our employees, business partners, customers and community for allowing me to serve and leave DFW in a strong position to take on the next five decades.”
