Customers who visit Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport's Terminal E will be welcomed with a refreshed travel experience now that all customer-facing upgrades and enhancements are complete. The grand opening of all gates at Terminal E marks the second completed terminal in DFW's $2.7 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) to renovate three of its original terminal buildings.
"This is another milestone for DFW Airport and another step toward our mission to transform travel and enhance the customer experience," said Sean Donohue, DFW Airport's chief executive officer. "Our customers are looking for convenience and amenities that make for a unique travel experience, and these TRIP renovations will evolve to meet their needs for years to come."
A total of 36 passenger gates have been updated in Terminal E, adding charging stations for customers' personal electronics in gate and seating areas, long lasting durable terrazzo floors in the concourses and energy-efficient lighting that adds to the overall ambience of the space. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout the terminal, allowing customers to use the DFW mobile app to find the latest flight information, order food from concessionaires or find the ideal in-terminal shopping location. Additionally, the renovation updated four ticketing areas with security checkpoints and 16 screening lanes.
Terminal E now features 21 new locations for concessions, including Tim Love's Love Shack, Sonny Bryan's BBQ, Texas Marketplace, 7-Eleven, Camille's Ice Cream Bars, Dunkin' Donuts, Auntie Anne's and Chick-fil-A. The terminal also offers compelling new retail options from XpresSpa, InMotion Entertainment, Marshall-Rousso, Texas Marketplace, Southwest News, Headphone Hub and two new Hudson locations.
Terminal E also received upgrades to its parking garage, increasing capacity from 4,036 spaces to 5,941 spaces. In addition, customers easily can discover the nearest available space with the help of an electronic parking guidance system in the new section of the Terminal E garage. Overhead LED beacons spotlight open parking spaces, and the system alerts customers to available parking on other levels of the upgraded facility. The new parking garage also includes eight electric vehicle charging stations.
"More than 120 subcontractors and vendors contributed millions of hours to the Terminal E improvements, which created hundreds of jobs and contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the North Texas economy," said Khaled Naja, executive vice president of Infrastructure and Development for DFW Airport. "TRIP's impact reaches beyond DFW Airport and has positively affected local communities and small businesses throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area."
Customers now can enjoy the following additional features in Terminal E:
- Enhancements to passenger flow for ease of movement, including a redesigned check-in area, larger checkpoints and expanded concessions spaces
- Upgraded concessions outlets for dining, retail and services
- Enhanced signage for way-finding, concessions and gates, making it easier for passengers to locate needed services
- Upgraded parking amenities, including an electronic parking guidance system and electric vehicle charging stations
- Complimentary Wi-Fi internet service throughout the terminal, courtesy of AT&T
- More available power outlets in gate areas, worktables and some gate seating
- More expansive baggage claim areas with digital signage
- Enhanced and expanded TSA checkpoints with additional lanes and more room to repack
- More self-serve ticket kiosks for customer check-in
- New energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
- State-of-the-art lighting system featuring daylight harvesting and backlit LED signage
- Energy-efficient glass windows
- Newly designed long lasting durable flooring to replace ceramic tile floors
- Higher ceilings, creating an elongated and elevated space
- New state-of-the-art fiber optics backbone and communications rooms
- New Public Address Voice Evacuation (PAVE) system
- New floor artworks located at concourse-level entrances to Skylink
- Four new high-capacity elevators for transit between concourse levels
Capital improvements will continue in Terminal E beyond the original scope of TRIP, including the finish-out of several concessions outlets, with anticipated completion by the end of 2017. TRIP upgrades were completed at Terminal A in January and are scheduled for completion at Terminal B in the next six months.
