DFW eyes growth plans after American Airlines' successful 'DFW 900'
As goes American Airlines, so goes Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
When the hometown carrier added more than 100 flights in a growth push dubbed "DFW 900" in May, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) saw monthly passenger traffic jump 10% year-over-year in June, airport data shows. Double-digit passenger growth is almost unheard of at a mature airport like DFW.
"It went better than we expected, both from an operational and economic perspective," said John Ackerman, executive vice-president of global strategy and development at DFW, at the World Routes conference in Adelaide, Australia, on Sunday.
American added the new flights after renovating the 15-gate Terminal E satellite at the airport. Those gates, which opened in May, allowed it to add the more than 100 at already teeming DFW.
Year-to-date through July, passenger numbers on American at DFW were up 10.1% year-over-year to 36.9 million, airport data shows. Overall passengers at the airport were up 8.4% to 43.3 million.
The new flights did not come without challenges for both American and the airport. Adding gates in Terminal E meant American would operate from all five of DFW's terminals, each of which operates like "its own city," said Ackerman. He explained that every terminal is separate from the others in terms of infrastructure; for example, the luggage systems are not connected, requiring bags to be transferred between terminals on a luggage cart.
In addition, the airport now operates with nearly every gate occupied during peak hours, he said. This limits DFW's ability to offer space to new carriers at desirable times.
DFW is working on those space constraints. In May, the airport and American announced a deal to build 'Terminal F' with 24 gates on unused space in the southwest corner of the terminal complex. The first phase is due to open by 2025.
Related: A New Terminal Is Coming to American Airlines' Biggest Hub
Design work is underway on the new facility that may or may not follow the airport's signature semi-circular terminal layout, said Ackerman. One option under consideration is building just a satellite concourse connected inside security by DFW's existing Skylink. A satellite design would mean passengers would check in and collect bags in one of the airport's existing terminals, likely adjacent terminals D or E and take the train to F.
Building just a concourse would cost less than a full-service terminal, and could mean lower operating costs for American, Ackerman said. However, the airport must also take into account local travelers' partiality for the convenience of the current layout that minimizes the distance from curbside to gate.
"We're debating are we going to keep our model, or are we going to change," said Ackerman.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.