American Airlines has invested $4 billion to help Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) build a new terminal. The windfall of funding will enable the airport to double the size of Terminal F, putting DFW on the path toward becoming the largest airport hub in the world.
Construction on Terminal F began in November 2024. The funding injection enables the airport to expand its original vision, building additional amenities and infrastructure designed to elevate the quality and breadth of services through the airport.
Notable additions to the project’s original design will include doubling the number of gates, building facilities to develop international operations, install security screening, develop baggage handling facilities and create a building for passenger check-in. In addition, the terminal will have additional capacity for widebody aircraft, more space for amenities, more restaurants, shops and public artwork.
Plans for the terminal expansion took root in 2023, starting with a 10-year use and lease agreement between DFW and American Airlines. This agreement included pre-approved investments to get the project underway with plans for future additions. The airport announced that the lease has been extended another decade as part of the investment.
DFW officials project that the airport will be handling 100 million passengers by the end of the decade, prompting immediate action to prepare systems and facilities to handle a scaling influx of traffic. Once completed, Terminal F will connect to a centralized Skylink Station and provide a walkable connection with adjacent terminals.
To increase convenience, the airport will build a new parking garage. DFW officials said the garage will be one of the airport’s largest, featuring built-in curbside circulation to streamline processing.
American Airlines will be the sole occupant for all 31 gates included in the terminal’s design. The terminal is expected to be operational by 2027. Its construction is the latest step forward in the airport’s capital plan—DFW Forward. The plan details more than $12 billion in investments to improve and expand airport facilities, infrastructure and operations.
Photo Courtesy Grant Wickes via Wikimedia Commons
