Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport and American Airlines have announced plans to develop a sixth terminal.
The plans call for DFW to invest up to $3 to $3.5 billion in terminal improvements, including the construction of Terminal F and enhancements to Terminal C.
The identified site south of Terminal D provides significant flexibility for phasing in the number of gates for Terminal F, with a long-term projection of up to 24 gates, as demand for additional facilities is warranted.
Design work for Terminal F will begin immediately. DFW and American will explore several different options for the layout of the Terminal F site. DFW and American expect the details to be finalised as part of a new airlines lease agreement for DFW that is being negotiated.
DFW and American anticipate the investment to be financed by bonds and repaid through airlines rates and charges over the life of the bonds. Terminal F is projected to open as soon as 2025.
“Today’s announcement sets the stage for DFW Airport’s next 50 years,” said Sean Donohue, chief executive officer (CEO) of DFW Airport. “The new Terminal F and the expansion that could follow will provide the region with the growth it needs to compete with international business centers.
“The Airport is growing faster than ever, and it needs to keep pace with the Dallas-Fort Worth economy to provide jobs and connections for businesses and families.
“We look forward to working together to deliver what will be an efficient, modern terminal with a state-of-the-art customer experience.”
American Airlines chairman and CEO, Doug Parker said: “DFW is American’s largest hub and a central gateway to our extensive international and domestic network. The plans we’re announcing today will allow for the continued growth of DFW and ensure the airport remains a premier gateway for American for many more years to come.”
The design of Terminal F is expected to accommodate a changing aviation industry as DFW utilises innovative technologies to facilitate the movement of customers, maintain cost efficiencies for airlines and improve operational performance.
Terminal C is one of the Airport’s original terminals and opened in 1974. DFW and American plan to significantly improve the customer experience at Terminal C, bringing it in line with Terminals A, B and E, on which renovations were completed in 2018.
Those renovations included redesigned check-in areas, larger security checkpoints, expanded concessions spaces, and improved lighting and flooring.
DFW Airport welcomed a record 69 million customers in 2018, and the airport anticipates more passengers and air service to be added in the next two years than in the past two decades.
In 2018, DFW announced 28 new destinations, giving it a larger domestic footprint than any other US airport. Customers also have access to more than 60 international destinations from DFW, with double the number of European destinations and frequencies since 2015.
Over the past several years, American has expanded with additional DFW service, and by June 2019, the airline will operate more than 900 daily flights from the Airport. In total, customers have access to more than 230 nonstop destinations on American from DFW.
(Main picture: (L to R) American CEO Doug Parker, DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings)
