American Airlines' planned Terminal F at DFW put on hold because of COVID
American Airlines' planned new Terminal F at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has been put on hold, the latest aviation-related setback tied to the coronavirus pandemic.
The airport has postponed the planned 24-gate facility "indefinitely" because of a drop in flyer numbers, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) chief financial officer Christopher Poinsatte said in a bond investor presentation released late Tuesday (July 21). The move was not unexpected, with The Dallas Morning News reporting in April that the timing of the project was under review amid the crisis.
The postponement comes as U.S. airline industry faces the most dire crisis in their history. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have reported billions of dollars in second quarter losses and every major airline is threatening large-scale furloughs as they prepare for a smaller future.
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Terminal F was to be the domain of hometown carrier American Airlines. Plans for the facility, which would complete the original vision of a six-terminal complex at Dallas/Fort Worth airport, were unveiled in May 2019 with the building due to begin opening in 2025.
The terminal deal coincided with American expanding its schedule at Dallas/Fort Worth to up to 900 daily departures, or "DFW 900" as the expansion was called. The airline expanded into a satellite concourse connected to Terminal E at the airport to accommodate the added flights.
"[DFW 900] positions us to have more meaningful and profitable growth," American's vice-president of DFW hub operations Cedric Rockamore said in April 2019.
Related: A New Terminal Is Coming to American Airlines’ Biggest Hub
The crisis has derailed American's growth plans. In July, the airline will fly about half as many flights as it did a year ago, according to Cirium schedules. However, at Dallas/Fort Worth it will operate nearly 68% of its 2019 schedule.
Maintaining a robust schedule in Dallas/Fort Worth, which American still views as a powerhouse, is key to the airline's strategy to emerge from the crisis stronger than it entered. Month after month, American has flown more than competitors Delta and United with a view that with 80% of costs fixed, it makes sense to generate as much revenue as possible.
That strategy is on track to make Dallas/Fort Worth the "busiest airport in the world" in July, according to Poinsatte.
Related: American drops 19 long-haul routes; cuts in LAX, adds in Seattle
American is not immune from the industry's ails. The airline has notified 25,000 staff of possible furloughs this fall and executives expect a multi-year recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Dallas/Fort Worth is continuing with some capital works. One project for American that will move forward is the reconstruction of six gates in Terminal C by 2022, said Poinsatte.
This is similar to what other airports are doing: continue or accelerate existing projects while postponing works that have not begun. Delta has accelerated construction of terminals at Los Angeles (LAX), New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Salt Lake City (SLC) for example. At the same time, Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon is considering shrinking or delaying plans for a new central terminal building even as it opened a new concourse for Southwest Airlines earlier in July.
Related: Southwest inaugurates a new ‘very Portland’ concourse at PDX
As for Terminal F, the plans are still on the books for Dallas/Fort Worth, with only the timeline up in the air, according to Poinsatte. It will likely be built in phases when it does move forward, he added.
"COVID-19 has hit the airport and airline industry very hard," said Poinsatte. "But we believe based on American Airlines' publicly announced strategy... that DFW will emerge stronger relative to other airports and more quickly than other airports."
Related: DFW eyes growth plans after American Airlines’ successful ‘DFW 900’
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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
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- 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.