Airport Planning Specialist

This major US airport's $12B expansion will add A new Terminal in 2027. By Felix Gott May 26, 2026 8:30 pm EST Although you might not know it from some of the news stories in recent months, the U.S. aviation system is having one of its most transformative periods in decades. While many of the headlines focus on the major budget airline Spirit shutting down its operations or the cost of jet fuel as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, this paints a somewhat misleading picture. At the same time, there has been a boom in airport investment, with tens of billions of dollars committed to projects to redevelop transport hubs across the country, changing the way the sector operates and kickstarting a new age of air travel. Several U.S. airlines have permanently cancelled several flights and routes in the last few months. And some of these moves are cost-saving exercises in response to global events. But many of them are strategic shake-ups, reassigning staff and planes to new routes and markets. Similarly, several airports have announced enormous expansion projects designed to power them into the future. One of the most impressive examples is the $12 billion expansion project at Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), which includes a $5.6 billion investment in a brand-new terminal. Dallas-Fort Worth is already the third-busiest airport hub in the world and second in the U.S. after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This major expansion is designed to support further growth and will cement the airport's relationship with American Airlines, which has provided around $4 billion of the budget, and will be the only carrier in the new Terminal F. What does the Dallas-Fort Worth expansion include? In common with many other major airports in the U.S., most of DFW was built in the 20th century and hasn't been upgraded much since then. As a result, a lot of the existing infrastructure is outdated and unfit for purpose, and certainly not future-proofed. The DFW Forward project will address this. The main focus of the project is the brand-new Terminal F, a joint project by DFW and American Airlines. It will feature 31 self-supported gates, a new Skylink station, and a huge concourse. Upgrades and renovations are also planned in Terminal A and Terminal C. Alongside the terminal improvements, there are plenty of planned works that are less visible to tourists but just as important. The heating and cooling systems will get a full modernization, with energy supplied entirely from renewable resources. New roads will ease traffic issues and make pick-up and drop-off a breeze. The project began in 2023, when Runway 17R/35L was closed for renovation. The renewable-powered electric central utility plant project began in 2025, and the first phases of the official DFW Forward project are due to complete in 2026. Terminal F will open for business in 2027, and the entire project is due for completion in 2030.

PA Consulting and Jacobs to advance intelligent aviation infrastructure with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. PA Consulting, the global innovation and transformation consultancy, in strategic partnership with Jacobs (NYSE: J), has been selected by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to lead a transformative digital advisory engagement aimed at redefining intelligent airport operations in North America. The initiative integrates artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and advanced analytics to enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and the passenger experience at one of the nation's busiest airports. This engagement underscores PA's deep expertise across digital transformation and aviation strategy, built on a track record of advising major airports and airlines across the U.S. and globally. PA's aviation practice is recognized for delivering future-ready solutions for clients that combine technology, sustainability, and operational excellence. PA's aviation team combines extensive industry knowledge with strengths in innovation and transformation to deliver enduring results for airlines, airports, investors, and the broader aviation supply chain. A key component of the engagement is the development of an Intelligent Foundation IT architecture, designed to support predictive decision-making and long-term innovation. This includes embedded cybersecurity capabilities and scalable digital infrastructure to support DFW's growth and sustainability goals. PA's experts advise on strategy, transactions, and restructuring; improve commercial outcomes through smarter pricing, innovative products, and partnerships; and help organizations deliver better services. The aviation team's work includes harnessing technology to help Amsterdam Airport Schiphol become the world's most sustainable airport, partnering with the airline alliance SkyTeam to drive sustainability through innovation, and supporting Heathrow Airport on its journey to improve punctuality by embedding initiatives in customer experience, safety, and efficiency to benefit airlines, employees, passengers and the environment. Jacobs holds the top spot in airport design according to Engineering News-Record (ENR) and is widely acknowledged for its global expertise in implementing cutting-edge digital infrastructure across aviation hubs in the US, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Australia. Jacobs' strong relationship with DFW and proven expertise in AI-driven infrastructure make it well-positioned to lead the next phase of intelligent transformation. The work with DFW demonstrates Jacobs' commitment to driving digital innovation in critical infrastructure sectors. Across initiatives such as smart cities, real-time geospatial integration and digital twin implementations, Jacobs helps public and private clients worldwide respond to complex challenges through intelligent, connected systems.