American Airlines is advancing the future of air travel with the official launch of electronic boarding gates at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Following a successful pilot in November 2025, American is now deploying the technology at scale at its largest hub.

American will be the first major U.S. network carrier to install dormakaba electronic boarding gates at scale at a major U.S. airport hub, starting in the new DFW Terminal C Pier Expansion.

“Boarding plays a key role in how customers experience the final moments before their flight, and electronic boarding gates will further elevate that experience, creating a more seamless and consistent process,” said Heather Garboden, chief customer officer, American. “This innovative change is part of a broader shift toward creating a more intuitive travel journey, one that blends technology and service to guide customers through each step with greater ease and confidence, delivering a modern, consistent experience wherever they travel with us.”

Electronic boarding gates are powered by proprietary infrastructure and technology designed to guide customers smoothly through the boarding process.

Electronic boarding gates extend American’s broader digital journey by giving customers clearer guidance and a more predictable path from the gate to the aircraft. The nearly 20 dormakaba Argus Air XS electronic boarding gates will support customers and team members throughout the boarding process by:

• Streamlining manual tasks for American’s team members during boarding, allowing them more time to provide exceptional customer service and operationally critical tasks
• Providing clear, American-branded touchscreen instructions so customers know exactly what to expect
• Automatically validating boarding passes before opening, allowing customers to proceed smoothly to the aircraft
• Regulating the pace of boarding to reduce congestion and improve jet bridge flow

“After piloting the technology late last year and seeing positive feedback from both customers and team members, we’re excited to further incorporate electronic boarding gates at DFW,” said Jim Moses, senior vice president of DFW hub operations, American. “This is another step forward in creating a modern, seamless journey for customers, while keeping our people at the center of the experience.”

The new gates will debut at American’s new Terminals A and C pier expansions scheduled to open this year. The piers are part of a multi-year modernization project of DFW, aimed at delivering a smoother and enhanced experience for customers and team members.

Together, these capabilities help deliver an innovative boarding experience.