American Airlines to Roll Out Electronic Boarding Gates at DFW This Summer

DALLAS — American Airlines (AA) has announced it will start using electronic boarding gates at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) this summer. This follows a pilot program last year and will be the first large-scale use of dormakaba electronic boarding gates by a major U.S. airline at a hub airport.

American says about 20 Dormakaba Argus Air XS gates will be installed first in the new Terminal C pier expansion at DFW. Later, they will be added to the new Terminal A and C pier expansions opening this year. DFW Airport says the Terminal C pier project will add 115,000 square feet and nine gates, including four new ones.

The airline says these gates will make boarding more predictable for passengers and reduce manual work for gate staff. Passengers will scan their boarding pass at the gate, follow the on-screen instructions, and proceed once the pass is validated. AA also says the system will help control the boarding pace and reduce congestion.

Software and hardware integration

This isn’t AA’s first move into boarding technology. In November 2024, the airline expanded its own boarding software to over 100 U.S. airports. That software helps enforce boarding-group order and gives gate agents a clearer view of the process. The new rollout at DFW takes things further by adding automated gates to the boarding process.

The carrier says it plans to bring electronic boarding gates to more hubs and gateway airports in the future. The DFW launch is part of a larger effort to make the boarding experience more consistent across its network.