Dallas' Love Field airport has long played second fiddle to its cross-town rival, the behemoth Dallas-Fort Worth International, which ranks as the world's third busiest airport, but finally Love is getting some much-needed attention.

Southwest Airlines uses Love Field as a hub and that's been about the only thing keeping the place alive in recent years. Those flying through Love are accustomed to a no-frills, small-town airport experience. But now that federal restrictions on how far Southwest can fly out of Love are set to be lifted, the airline has big plans for its Dallas hub. Southwest announced this week it will move ahead with a $519 million investment that aims to not just keep Love Field in business, but double its traffic to 8 million flyers a year.

What does that mean for you? Probably a lot more Southwest flights that connect through Dallas, and, coming in 2011, a shiny new terminal with twice as many restaurants. No word yet on whether they'll add a great make-out spot.

Related Stories:
· $519M makeover planned at Dallas' Love Field [Dallas Morning News]
· DFW Revamps Ultimate Airport Make Out Spot [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines Coverage [Jaunted]

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Southwest Airlines may not have live TV or power outlets in the air, but the newly remodeled gates at San Antonio International and Dallas Love Field will at least make your time on the ground nicer. And since you no longer have to camp out in line, you can actually enjoy the additions to the gate area.

Big, padded armchairs look almost too nice, and power plugs are built into small consoles alongside. A charging station also has seating and plugs, and monitors are scattered around with both news and flight info. And in a nod to families, a separate seating area is tucked away to the side with flat screens playing kid-friendly shows.

While the new stuff is only in Texas so far, Southwest plans to refit all its gates by summer of 2008.

Post-click, photos of the new gate area.

Related Stories:
· Nuts About Southwest: New Gate Areas [Official Site]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-10-12T10:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/