Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport and American Airlines Speed Up and Expand Terminal F Plans

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and American Airlines have announced they will speed up and make Terminal F bigger. The project will now double the number of gates, include spaces for international flights, add more passenger amenities, and combine check-in areas, all in a single building. The plan extends their lease agreement through 2043 and boosts the total investment to about $4 billion for a new main terminal run by American Airlines.

In 2023, DFW and American agreed on a 10-year lease and planned to build Terminal F with 15 gates linked to Terminal E by Skylink (the airport train system). They also intended to build separate areas for ticketing, security, baggage claim, and more.

Now, DFW and American will complete all phases faster. The expanded Terminal F will support larger widebody planes, international flights, extra shops, restaurants, public art, and a new Skylink station.

It will connect directly to Terminal D by foot and include one of DFW’s largest parking garages, designed with fast curb access for check-in and security.

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The first 15-gate part of Terminal F is still expected to open in 2027, with the rest opening later. American will use all 31 gates, making operations smoother and improving connections for the roughly 60% of passengers who connect through DFW.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, DFW Board Chair DeMetris Sampson, DFW CEO Sean Donohue, and American CEO Robert Isom spoke at the announcement on 1st of May.

They emphasized that this expansion is a major investment for DFW, the largest since Terminal D opened 20 years ago, and a vote of confidence in the region’s growth. They also said it will help DFW stay a top global travel hub and support the North Texas economy.

DFW’s larger “DFW Forward” improvement plan now totals over $12 billion, including a $3 billion project to rebuild Terminal C and expand Terminal A.