The busiest day in DFW Airport history and the latest on the new Terminal F

This summer season had the 10 busiest shuttle days in DFW International Airport’s 50-year history and the airport is preventing call for by way of proceeding to develop as the 2d busiest airport by way of passengers in the international.

At the 2023 State of the Airport Monday, DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue equipped the airport’s outlook.

DFW Airport flyers are going to look some large adjustments as early as 2024. In May, DFW International Airport and American Airlines signed a deal for $4.8 billion in expansions, together with $1.6 billion for a new terminal with 15 new gates.

“Increasing population requires infrastructure to accommodate the needs of both current residents and prospective newcomers,” Donohue mentioned.

Here’s what we all know up to now about DFW’s new terminal and adjustments being made inside of the airport to present terminals.

Terminal F — DFW’s new 6th terminal

It’s the long-awaited 6th terminal at DFW Airport — Terminal F.

Construction on the new terminal used to be not on time when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the airline business and added uncertainty to the expansion of the airport and the whole air shuttle business.

But shuttle call for has come again robust, giving the airport and number one tenant American Airlines the self assurance to make bigger once more. Donohue mentioned the airport is exceeding pre-pandemic site visitors. In June, July and August, the airport set a document of twenty-two.5 million passengers. On June 30 on my own, the airport served 281,000 passengers — the airport’s busiest day in its 50-year history, Donohue mentioned.

Although the preliminary section will start with 15 new gates in Terminal F, Donohue mentioned in May that the airport is attaining its unique objective of 24 via the pier expansions connecting the corridors between present terminals and including spots for planes there.

“These additional gates will help address the escalating demand for air travel by providing gates for multiple airlines,” Donohue mentioned.

American and DFW got here to a tentative deal on construction a new $3 billion Terminal F in 2019, a partnership that might give the airline room to develop for future years.

The new terminal, which used to be reconfigured with a new design at a lower cost than in the beginning budgeted, will occupy a place close to the Express South Parking lot, the final of six areas that have been a part of the unique airport design for terminals. These new gates, in keeping with initial renderings, are to be constructed in a unmarried row on the airfield facet of the Skylink gentle rail tracks, not like what used to be carried out with the airport’s different 5 terminals.

Donohue mentioned the airport may be increasing concessions in the new house, providing extra eating and retail choices. Construction on Terminal F is anticipated to begin in the 2d part of subsequent yr and be entire by way of the finish of 2026.

The teardown of Terminal C, new gates

Terminal C’s new glance will come with 4 of the 9 new gates, the different 5 going to Terminal A in its revamp. The airport will make bigger in levels, he instructed The Dallas Morning News in May. There will probably be 3 to 4 levels of “tear down and rebuild,” he mentioned.

It will value an estimated $2.72 billion for the enlargement of the central terminal space, which incorporates “pier” expansions off terminals A and C, which upload the 9 new gates.

“These new gates for American Airlines will significantly enhance our airports capacity to accommodate the growing number of passengers,” Donohue mentioned.

Terminal C will refurbish the 24 present gates with the renovation challenge and 4 new gates will probably be added from the pier gate enlargement challenge. Four of the “high C” gates reopened final yr in the terminal.

A logo new concourse stage will probably be built for passengers, together with “unobstructed sight lines, ample elbow room and an array of additional amenities,” Donohue mentioned.

The terminal can have 16-foot ceilings to align with DFW’s lately built “high C” gates, a $115 million rework that reopened final yr. Donohue additionally mentioned the teardown rids the terminal of the columns which might be unfold during, bringing the now 520 columns to about 50 in the redesign.

Terminal C’s development will start in the first part of 2024, Donohue mentioned, with of entirety slated by way of 2028.

Donohue mentioned the new additions will probably be “disruptive,” however his objective is to do it in some way that will probably be the least disruptive to DFW’s consumers. American, and theoretically different carriers, pays for the new terminal via rentals on gates, touchdown charges and different rents paid to the airport.

“You will literally see this airport transform all around you,” Donohue mentioned.