Dallas Fort Forth International Airport (DFW) opened in 1974 and has grown to be one of the busiest airports worldwide and the second busiest in America, with Air Advisor reporting 81.7 million annual passengers. But despite the traffic volume, and Dallas-Fort Worth being one of the fastest-growing metros in the nation in terms of wealth, DFW hasn’t seen a new terminal open since 2005. That’s about to change sooner rather than later: In May 2025, the airport announced a new, roughly $4 billion agreement with American Airlines to boost construction of the brand-new Terminal F, which is expected to open doors in 2027.
Granted, the announcement of a new terminal may not seem all that notable for those who’ve flown in recent years. Airport construction projects have become a common hurdle right alongside with traffic and TSA lines, but they’re needed to modernize aging infrastructure and accommodate rising passenger levels. Federal Aviation Administration data likewise shows thousands of active airport improvement grants in place across the U.S. But although a total of $5 billion has been allocated between 2022 and 2026, these federal grants fall short. In the case of DFW, federal money in 2025 amounted to $11.7 million and only paid for an apron expansion (the aircraft parking area). Meanwhile, the new terminal is coming from capital investments secured directly by DFW, and it’s allowing the growing airport to upgrade its operations considerably.
A bigger budget means an even larger terminal
DFW is the longtime primary hub of American Airlines, which accounts for 60% of the airport’s passenger traffic. The new terminal — which will bring the airport’s total from five to six — is naturally a big deal for both the airline and airport, coming with an expansive agreement that will allow American Airlines to use every new gate.
However, Terminal F was originally planned to be a much smaller facility primarily supported by the existing Terminal E, with passengers traveling to it via the airport’s Skylink light-rail train. Construction for Terminal F broke ground in 2024 with this very plan in mind, working with an initial budget of $1.6 billion…