Sean Donahue, CEO of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, who oversaw the facility’s significant growth to become the world’s third-busiest airport with 87 million passengers, announced on October 8 that 2025 announced that he would be retiring from his position.
Donahue, who joined the airport in 2013, will lead the 50-year-old airport’s strategy to improve operational efficiency, customer service and economic impact at DFW, now North America’s first carbon-neutral airport, according to community leaders. He is said to have demonstrated leadership in shaping the company’s vision.
“Sean Donahue is a remarkable leader who has elevated DFW Airport to greater heights during his 10-year tenure as CEO of one of the world’s most successful airports,” Fort Worth Mayor Matty Parker said in a statement. ” he said. “His dedication has had a lasting impact on Fort Worth, North Texas, and the airport itself. I am grateful for his outstanding contributions and the future of DFW Airport is bright thanks to the foundation he laid. Knowing this, I hope to do my best to give him the retirement he deserves.”
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson said DFW Airport’s worldwide reputation has been enhanced by Donahue’s leadership.
“The City of Dallas commends Sean for his 10-year tenure with DFW and the growth and prosperity DFW has brought to our city, region and community,” Johnson said. “I wish him well in his retirement and I know he leaves the airport in a strong position as he moves on to the next chapter of DFW.”
Donahue, 63, said he is ready to hand over the reins to the airport’s next leader when he retires next year. The airport’s board of directors will begin a global search for Donahue’s successor. Donahue said he supports the transition while a CEO search is underway.
“After 40 years of service to the aviation industry, I have decided, with mixed feelings, that it is time to take up the torch at DFW and begin a new chapter in my life,” Donahue said in a statement. “Aviation has taken me to almost every corner of the world and led me to the great privilege of overseeing some of the best airports in the industry. In many ways, the stories of DFW and North Texas are the same. , we have grown and supported each other for 50 years.”
Donahue is credited with shaping DFW as a major air transportation hub, with the facility currently reaching more than 250 destinations on five continents. The airport’s economic influence has grown to support 634,000 jobs and more than $38 billion in annual payroll.
The airport generates $5 billion a year in local and state taxes and is in a strong position to weather the next 50 years, Donahue said.
Airport Commission Chair Demetris Sampson said Donahue’s impact on DFW Airport and the aviation industry cannot be overstated.
“His leadership and vision guided DFW through historic challenges and a period of significant growth,” Sampson said. “He has ensured that business opportunities at the airport are open to everyone and has helped develop an airport that our community can be very proud of.
“Sean’s legacy will be remembered for decades to come, and the Board of Directors wishes him a meaningful retirement.”
Donahue also credits DFW Airport with quickly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, airport workers were not furloughed as the pandemic affected global travel. The facility focused on transportation and cargo needs while preparing for the return of travelers.
This year, DFW is expected to set a new passenger record with approximately 87 million travelers, an increase of nearly 19% over 2019, when 73.3 million passengers visited the airport. Officials say the airport has been ranked the best large airport in North America for customer satisfaction for the past two years.
In a commentary published in the Fort Worth Report in January, Donahue wrote about the historic opening of DFW Airport on January 13, 1974.
“This airport represents a long and sometimes bitter battle over how to create an advanced, centralized commercial airport in the North Texas region that is fair to the city that owns it and that can withstand decades of growth and change. It was a result of negotiation,” Donahue said. I wrote.
Over the past 50 years, DFW has seen and endured the rise and fall of global commerce, the evolution of technology, and the immense challenges posed to aviation by the events of 9/11 and the global pandemic. Through it all, DFW has been resilient, adapting and growing to meet the needs of our customers in new ways. ”
Airports are more than just transit points, Donahue wrote. Its value as an economic center is “a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together with a common vision.”
Donahue, who also served as an executive at United Airlines and Virgin Australia, oversaw the signing of a historic 10-year use and lease agreement between the DFW airline and Fort Worth-based American Airlines.
The airport said it is moving forward with a $9 billion capital improvement program that includes construction of a new Terminal F and upgrades to Terminal C, airport roads and other facilities. This improvement would continue until the end of the decade. The airport also said it plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, about 20 years ahead of industry goals.
Donahue also serves as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Aviation and Aerospace Committee.
Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at The Fort Worth Report. Please contact eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
News decisions are made independently of board members and financial supporters. Learn more about our editorial independence policy.
related
The Fort Worth Report has been certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative to meet standards of ethical journalism.
Republish this story
Reprints for non-profit organizations are free. Commercial organizations are prohibited without a license agreement. Please contact us for more information.
