GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Upgrades have been completed at one of the oldest terminals at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as part of $2.7 billion in overall renovations.
Airport officials on Wednesday unveiled the Terminal E high-tech improvements meant to bolster passenger comfort and convenience at all 36 gates.
“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.”
Terminal E now features 21 new locations for concessions, many with a decidedly local feel, 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 new retail options from XpresSpa, InMotion Entertainment, Marshall-Rousso, Texas Marketplace, Southwest News, Headphone Hub and two new Hudson locations.
The parking garage also got an upgrade, increasing capacity from 4,036 spaces to 5,941 spaces. In addition, customers won’t have to hunt for that empty space or curse when they find a small car is parked between giant trucks or SUVs. Parkers 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.”
DFW Airport opened in 1974. The five-terminal airport, according to its website , handles more than 65 million travelers annually.
The grand re-opening of all gates at Terminal E, now with free Wi-FI and more than 20 restaurant and other concessions, marked the second completed terminal as part of the three original terminals being renovated.
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, according to airport officials. TRIP upgrades were completed at Terminal A in January and are scheduled for completion at Terminal B in the next six months.