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Construction crews have started work on Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's sixth terminal.
The groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 19 was a major milestone for the world's third-busiest airport and represents the next huge investment at the facility that plays a central role in the Metroplex economy.
Terminal F will focus on other airlines outside of the airport's biggest customer, Fort Worth-based American Airlines Group Inc. DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue said the 15 gates being constructed for the $1.7 billion terminal will be primarily for "other airlines" when it opens in 2027.
The new terminal is part of the DFW Airport's $9 billion capital improvement plan, which also includes the renovation and expansion of terminals C and A.
Terminal A and Terminal C expansions will add a total of 255,000 square feet and nine gates, which will go to American Airlines. But that's not the case at Terminal F. While it's still undetermined which airlines will take gates at the 400,000-square-foot new terminal, Donohue said Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Inc. is among the airlines involved in negotiations.
"We've been in talks with Southwest for a while now," he said. "With all of the discussions we're having with multiple airlines, the most important point is we built the gates for airlines to grow at DFW."
Donohue said airport leaders are going to be prudent with discussions with airlines, describing it as a "dynamic industry." The DFW groundbreaking came a day after Spirit Airlines, which flies out of the airport, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Originally, Terminal F was supposed to be a $1.63 billion project. The price is now $1.7 billion, according to preliminary roadshow documents for a bond issuance. The project also includes the expansion of Terminal E, adding a 100,000-square-foot check-in, security and baggage claim area for passengers traveling through Terminal F.
Donohue said they accounted for the project price tag to increase in its budget, noting construction costs are up about 40% compared with 2019. That's one reason why the airport is choosing to do modular construction — a technique of building the structures offsite and then moving and connecting them onsite.
The design and construction of Terminal F and Skyline Station is with Irving-based Innovation Next+. That team is made up of Walsh Construction/Archer Western, Turner Construction Co., Phillips May Corp., H.J. Russell & Co. and Carcon Industries. Gensler, PGAL and Muller2 are part of the design team.
Archer Western Building Group President Michael Whelan said the modular construction will be on a grander scale than what was seen with the high C gates.
"That project was a great success, and today we're pushing ourselves even further," he said. "We've designed modules that are double the size and more complex, with modular wall systems, mechanical rooms, interior finishes."
The airport has contracted two-thirds of its $9 billion program, Donohue said. By the end of 2027, he expects the airport will pick 90% of contractors. The airport expects to see 100 million passengers a year by 2028.