Summary:
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and American Airlines have opened nine new gates as part of the ongoing transformation of Terminal C, a key component of the airport’s long-term expansion programme.
- The new gates, built in a pier configuration using modular construction techniques, increase capacity while offering passengers an early preview of the future Terminal C experience.
- The expansion forms part of DFW’s $12 billion ‘DFW Forward’ capital programme, designed to modernise infrastructure and support continued growth at one of the world’s busiest airports.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – a Headline Partner of FTE Global, Dallas, Texas, 8 to 10 September 2026 and a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – and American Airlines have celebrated the opening of nine new gates as part of the ongoing transformation and expansion of Terminal C.
The terminal, which is being entirely rebuilt and reimagined over the next several years, is DFW’s busiest and is exclusively utilised 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.
“Terminal C represents the future of DFW taking shape in real time,” said Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer, DFW Airport. “As we prepare to welcome summer travellers 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 modernising 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 include five fully rebuilt gates and four entirely new gates, are located 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 augmented 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 modernise 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, industry leading 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 modernisation while reducing impacts on travellers.”
The expansion is the first set of new and rebuilt gates to open under the airport’s $12 billion DFW Forward capital improvement programme.
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