Love Field: The Airport Matures

Love Field: The Airport Matures. . , September 1, 1927 - Scheduled passenger service begins at Love Field (and for the state of Texas) with a National Air Transport aircraft departing for Chicago with mail and three passengers. The one-way fare to Chicago is $103.50., September 27, 1927 - Charles Lindbergh lands his Spirit of St. Louis at Love Field on his 48-state tour of the U.S. following his electrifying New York-Paris flight. The city marks the occasion with a parade, a banquet at the Adolphus Hotel, and a declaration making Love Field the official municipal airport of Dallas., June 22, 1928 - The City of Dallas completes the purchase of the airport from the Love Field Corporation for $325,000., 1929 - Love Field's first terminal building, a two-story brick structure on the northwest corner, is completed., September 4, 1930 - French aviators Dieudonné Costes and Maurice Bellonte arrive at Love Field after making the first east-west crossing of the Atlantic by airplane, with a stop in New York, to win a $25,000 prize offered by local philanthropist William W. Easterwood., 1938 - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Braniff Airways have grown steadily through expansion and mergers to become the three largest carriers serving the airport. Passenger traffic has grown to the point that the 1929 terminal building is no longer adequate., 1940 - The Dallas Aviation School, established at the airport by Maj. William F. "Bill" Long in 1926, is now one of the nation's ten largest flight schools. History repeats itself at Love Field as the school begins training Army pilots and mechanics at the behest of Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold in anticipation of America's entry into World War II., 1940 - A new terminal building opens at this location featuring five gates, air conditioning throughout, a restaurant, barber shop, and control tower, as well as phone hookups for through passengers to make a local call without leaving their aircraft as they wait to continue their journey.