DFW Airport CEO receives large cash bonus, pay raise

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport chief executive Sean Donohue received a cash bonus and pay raise on Thursday for guiding the airport through its strong financial year.

On Thursday, the airport’s board approved a $113,850 cash bonus for Donohue, a little more than 25 percent of his $440,000 annual salary. The board also approved a 3 percent raise, which will be effective on December 29, increasing Donohue’s salary to $453,200 a year.

Donohue has been the top executive at the airport for a little more than a year and during that time the airport has served a record 62.9 million passengers. International traffic has grown as the airlines have added flights to China and the Persian Gulf region.

Prior to receiving his bonus, Donohue briefed the board on the airport’s financial performance for fiscal year 2014, which ended on September 30. He noted the airport generated more than $100 million in net income for the first time in its history and that 60 percent of its revenues come from non-airline sources such as concessions, parking and commercial development.

However, the airport needs to improve its customer experience, Donohue said, particularly as the airport spends $2.7 billion on renovating its four older terminals.

“Because of the impact that the construction is having on our customers at the airport, we have to step up our game,” Donohue said, adding it will be a primary focus for his executive team in 2015.

Donohue’s annual salary is slightly higher than his predecessor, Jeff Fegan, who retired in October 2013 after leading the airport for 19 years. Fegan also received a similar double-digit percent cash bonus in 2012.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 1:31 PM with the headline "DFW Airport CEO receives large cash bonus, pay raise."