AIRPORT HISTORY
Tracing the History of Denton’s Aviation Hub
In September 1943, the City of Denton purchased 550 acres of land on the west side of the City for the construction of an airport. In January 1944, the City joined in a contract with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) for the construction of what would soon be the Denton Municipal Airport.
During World War II, the airport was used for considerable training activity by the North Texas State College flying school. The Airport was also host to one of the only seven glider schools in the United States.
The Airport achieved final completion in 1946, occupying approximately 523 acres with a single concrete runway, 4,125 feet in length and 150 feet in width.
RAPID GROWTH
Denton Municipal Airport remained relatively unchanged over the next 40 years. By the mid-1980s, the Airport boasted a small, outdated terminal, six commercial and private hangars, and a single 5,000-foot runway.
With the growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth region driving increased aviation activity, the Airport entered a period of sustained growth beginning in 1990 with a project to extend the main runway to 6,000 feet. This growth intensified in the early 21st century with the construction of an Air Traffic Control Tower in 2004, a new terminal building in 2007, and a new taxiway in 2008. The runway was extended again in 2010 to its current length of 7,002 feet.
The growth in aviation infrastructure was accompanied by a corresponding growth in activity with flight schools, avionics, maintenance, and other general aviation service providers choosing to locate at the Airport. Additionally, the growth of industrial facilities adjacent to the airport spurred its role in corporate and small cargo operations.
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE
Denton Enterprise Airport, a name that was adopted in 2012 to emphasize the business potential of the Airport, now boasts a second parallel runway (opened in 2019) and has consistently ranked as the 5th busiest airport in the state of Texas.
With the east side of the runways nearing full development, the future of the airport lies in the development of its west side (an opportunity that will nearly double the footprint of the Airport), the redevelopment of the east side to align with future aviation needs, new innovations in the aviation industry, and the opportunities that will become available as the region continues to grow.