American Airlines and DFW Dig in to Build 6th Terminal
The legacy carrier cements relationship with America’s fourth largest airport through a number of new development plans
American Airlines and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport have partnered up to produce a brand new terminal by 2025. Terminal F be the airport’s biggest project since 2005 financed, in large part, with help from the international airport’s chief airline tenant
The plans call for DFW to invest up to $3.0 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. DFW and American expect the details to be finalized as part of a new airlines lease agreement for DFW that is being negotiated.
“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,” said American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker at the announcement event. DFW is the airline’s largest hub.
The design of Terminal F is expected to accommodate a changing aviation industry as DFW utilizes innovative technologies to facilitate the movement of customers, maintain cost efficiencies for airlines and improve operational performance.
Terminal C, on the other hand, 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. Those renovations were completed in 2018.
Plans call for redesigned check-in areas, larger security checkpoints, expanded concessions spaces, and improved lighting and flooring.
Other changes afoot for American’s imprint at DFW include moving passenger flow into 15 new gates at DFW Airport’s Terminal E. The new gates are in a satellite building known as Terminal E. The new gates are an extension of Terminal E, accessed near gate E21through an underground walkway with moving sidewalks.
American also just opened the latest of its Flagship Lounges at DFW as a perk for premium international flyers. The new Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining can be found in Terminal D, next to Gate D21.
The new lounge is only available to international customers travelling in first and business class at this time.
“It made sense for us to go all-in on the Flagship experience at our largest hub,” said Senior Vice President of Marketing, Loyalty and Sales for American, Kurt Stache. “More of American’s premium customers fly through DFW than anywhere else, and we think they’ll agree the Flagship experience is unlike any other.”
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 U.S. 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.
