American Airlines and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport announced on Monday plans to develop a sixth passenger terminal. DFW Airport will invest between $3 to $3.5 billion for the construction of the new Terminal F. The construction also includes improvements to Terminal C, where American Airlines already operates. Terminal C is the only original terminal from 1974 that has not yet been renovated.
The expansion plans that are expected to be completed by 2025 will add up to 24 gates, and design work for it is set to begin immediately.
The site for the new terminal is south of Terminal D, wchich is currently a parking area. The terminal link shuttle already passes through the area in anticipation of the new Terminal F.
DFW is No. 4 in passenger traffic in the U.S. and No. 4 in the world in daily departures. It has more than 1,000 daily departures to 250 cities. The airport expects 73 million passengers in 2019, over 30% more than a decade ago.
DFW will use bonds to finance the terminal projects, estimated to cost $3 billion to $3.5 billion. Airlines will pay off the notes through landing fees and rents, and customers will contribute through passenger facility charges that they already pay to use the airport. American will absorb much of the costs because its mainline and regional carriers account for about 86% of passenger traffic at DFW.
