Dallas Fort Worth airport plans overhaul for oldest, busiest terminal
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is planning a major face-lift for its busiest but most dated terminal.
Last week, airport leaders joined forces with American Airlines on a ceremonial kickoff to a multibillion-dollar overhaul for DFW’s Terminal C.
The project will see construction crews overhaul the facilities of the terminal over the next six years, bringing passengers more airy, natural light-filled concourses with updated check-in, security and shopping areas, plus new restrooms and added lounge space.
The $3 billion transformation of Terminal C marks a big step forward for the 50-year-old airport and American, which calls DFW home and is by far the airport's biggest tenant.
In need of a refresh
While other DFW terminals offer more modern facilities for travelers and airlines, Terminal C is far more outdated — yet remains the busiest for passengers, and a major part of American’s DFW hub operation.
The airport's newest terminal, D, where many international flights originate, opened in 2005. Meanwhile, Terminals A, B and E have each received major renovations since their inception.
Now, it's Terminal C's turn.
Related: Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
What the refreshed Terminal C will look like
Design renderings unveiled by the airport show better-lit concourses and modernized retail spaces will greet passengers inside the overhauled 1.1 million square foot facility.
DFW
It’s a clear improvement over the more sterile design travelers find in much of the terminal today, as seen in the below photo of last week’s wall-hammering that marked the start of the project.
Related: On board American's inaugural flight from DFW to Tulum's new airport
The plans call for construction crews to completely overhaul the aging terminal. Crews will remove more than 400 columns that currently block passengers’ views of the airfield and, quite literally, raise the roof of the building. That, along with new, larger glass windows should allow far more natural light to spill into the building.
Plus, there will be practical improvements, too, from new shops and restaurants to updated ticketing areas, security checkpoints and other spaces.
Additional expansion plans
At the same time, construction crews will also get to work expanding pier-style concourses in both Terminal C and Terminal A, which will give the airport extra gate space to work with.
In all, Terminal C will see 18 gates reconstructed, five gates rebuilt, and four entirely new gates added.
DFW has existing pier-style gate facilities, like the one shown in the below photo taken in late 2022.
The pier expansion at Terminal A will give that facility five rebuilt gates, and five new ones.
A larger 'DFW Forward' plan
The work on Terminal C is also just one part of a much larger, $9 billion transformation of America’s second-busiest airport planned over the coming decade — its biggest face-lift since opening in 1974.
New Terminal F planned
Among the changes, the airport is moving forward with plans to start construction on an entirely new sixth terminal: Terminal F. The 400,000 square-foot, $1.6 billion terminal which will someday offer 15 gates and a direct connection to DFW’s airside Skylink train.
“As we grow closer to serving 100 million passengers each year, it’s time for DFW to enhance our remaining legacy terminal and imagine brand new ones,” DFW CEO Sean Donohue said in an Aug. 29 statement.
Read more: It lives up to the hype: Our review of the Capital One Lounge at DFW
Accommodating future growth
DFW was not just the second-busiest airport in the U.S. in 2023, but the third-busiest in the world, according to annual rankings from Airports Council International.
The total number of seats on commercial flights departing from DFW rose 18% in 2024 versus 2019, five years ago, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. They’re up 35% over 2014, a decade ago.
The airport is expected to grow its passenger traffic by around 25% between now and 2030, Donohue said at an industry conference last fall.
Not coincidentally, DFW hopes its work on Terminals C and F will be complete before then — and hopes to wrap up construction of the pier expansions in Terminals A and C even sooner, by 2026.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.