DFW Airport Opens Nine New Gates Ahead of Busy Summer Travel Season, Celebrates Construction Progress Ahead of World Cup Games

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and American Airlines today celebrated the opening of nine new gates as part of the ongoing transformation and expansion of Terminal C.

Terminal C, which is being entirely rebuilt and reimagined over the next several years, is DFW’s busiest terminal and is exclusively utilized by American Airlines. The new gates are constructed in a pier configuration that adds operational capacity and gives customers an early look at the future Terminal C travel experience just as DFW prepares for the summer travel season and to greet soccer fans from around the world.

“Terminal C represents the future of DFW taking shape in real time,” said Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of DFW Airport. “As we prepare to welcome summer travelers and global visitors to North Texas, customers are beginning to see years of planning and investment come to life. Together with American Airlines, we are modernizing one of our most important facilities while building the capacity and customer experience needed to serve the next generation of travel.”

The nine gates – which includes five fully rebuilt gates and four entirely new gates – are included in approximately 115,000 square feet of new facility space in Terminal C to support DFW’s and American’s continued long-term growth. The expanded area includes electronic boarding gates, upgraded customer amenities, expanded seating areas, new concessions and other enhancements designed to create an upleveled customer experience with bright spaces, power stations, easy wayfinding and spacious ceilings.

“DFW is central to our global operation and the historic investments we are making to modernize and expand our terminal facilities in partnership with DFW Airport will continue to enhance the customer experience and make way for future growth,” said American’s Senior Vice President of DFW Operations Jim Moses. “The opening of the new pier provides a preview of what customers can expect from the ongoing transformation at DFW, showcasing American’s Forever Forward SM mindset as we look to the future. The expansion also arrives just in time to serve our customers during what’s going to be a landmark summer.”

The piers were constructed using modular technology that moved six modules across the airfield and into place at the site of the expansion. The effort built on DFW’s breakthrough use of modular construction in 2022, with the airport again proving the success of new, industryleading techniques to expedite project timelines. DFW installed mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection systems in the six modules prior to being transported to the site.

The pier work coincides with the first of three phases that will completely reimagine the terminal’s existing footprint. A complete reconstruction of the adjacent parking garage is also underway, which will deliver more parking to accommodate the growth in gates.

“Projects of this scale require collaborative partnership, precision and an unwavering focus on maintaining operations while delivering transformational infrastructure,” said Mohamed Charkas, DFW’s Executive Vice President, Chief Development and Infrastructure Officer. “We’re grateful to HNTB, KAI and ADPI for their project management expertise, in addition to the design-build project’s contractor joint venture including Austin Commercial, Azteca Enterprises and Alpha & Omega, with HOK leading the design team members. Through innovative approaches like modular construction, DFW is creating a faster, more flexible path to modernization while reducing impacts on travelers.”

The expansion is the first set of new and rebuilt gates to open under the airport’s $12 billion DFW Forward capital improvement program. DFW today also announced significant progress on other capital construction projects, including:

International Parkway
A major transformation to roadway access into Terminals A, B and C recently reached an important milestone with the completion of new right-hand exits along International Parkway.

The improvements, completed about five months ahead of schedule, replace the airport’s historic left-hand exits and aging terminal bridge infrastructure with a more intuitive experience designed around how customers naturally navigate.

The work required years of planning and extensive coordination to maintain safe operations across DFW’s busiest roadway system.

Project teams installed:

• 215 structural beams
• More than 4,678 feet of bridge infrastructure
• Over 18 million pounds of structural materials installed across the project
• Primarily used overnight construction schedules designed to minimize customer impacts

The project results in easier navigation, improved roadway circulation and airport access designed for the future.

East-West Connector Roadway
Another major improvement is helping strengthen access on DFW’s south side. Rental Car Drive and State Highway 360 are being connected through a new 1.65-mile roadway creating east-west access across the airport campus.

The project supports customer movement today while helping prepare airport infrastructure for long-term North Texas growth. The roadway is expected to be completed this summer.

New aircraft hardstand capacity
Supporting operational flexibility during peak travel periods, including newly delivered aircraft parking positions designed to strengthen resiliency and help support airport operations during busy travel periods.

Airfield improvements
Enhancing movement efficiency across DFW’s nearly 27-square-mile operation, including ongoing work designed to improve aircraft flow, strengthen operational performance and support long-term growth across one of the world’s busiest airports.

Emergency response infrastructure
DFW recently opened the new East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station and expanded emergency response capabilities designed to strengthen resiliency, improve positioning and support faster response times across the airfield.

Across terminals, roadways, airfield systems and customer spaces, DFW is making long-term investments that will strengthen connectivity, improve mobility and create a more intuitive, modern airport experience for millions of customers each year.

To stay informed about DFW’s historic construction program and learn about its most transformative projects, visit dfwairport.com/construction and sign up for construction updates via email.