A New Era in Air Travel Takes Off, as DFW International Airport and American Airlines Jointly Open Redefined Section of Terminal A

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Mar 26, 2013, 11:00 ET

First phase to open under the Terminal Renewal and Improvement Project offers view of DFW's future, features next generation American Airlines branding

DFW AIRPORT, Texas, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Revealing the first glimpse of the future, DFW International Airport and American Airlines today jointly opened the first renovated portion of Terminal A, which features dramatic advances for passengers including new and improved facilities for parking, ticketing, security and concessions. The completion of Terminal A Phase 1, which includes gates A8 through A16, marks the first major milestone accomplishment for DFW's Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP), the seven-year $2.3 billion program that will renew DFW's four original terminals.

"Today is a special day for DFW Airport and American Airlines, as we welcome passengers to our greatly improved Terminal A," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW. "With new concessions, reimagined passenger flows, updated finishes and a completely revamped section of Terminal A, DFW Airport is solidifying its place as one of the world's top airports for customer service, and we stand ready to meet the needs of our passengers for the next 40 years."

With the completion of the first section of Terminal A, American Airlines also unveiled its new "next generation" designs for airports, the first such installation anywhere for the new American. The new features include enhanced check-in and ticketing, and redesigned services for premium passengers.

"Today we take another important step forward in our journey toward building a more modern travel experience to better suit the needs of our customers," said Kevin Cox, American's Vice President – Real Estate. "DFW Terminal A / Phase 1 sets the stage for future next generation airport improvements, and will be a tremendous model for us to further refine how we integrate our new look and feel into our airports in the future."

During the renovation, all of the terminal's building systems are being replaced, including electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, communications and lifesaving systems. The TRIP renovations will create huge gains in energy efficiency and sustainability for DFW, while allowing the Airport to improve its layout, amenities and appearance for the modern traveler.

"Our passengers are really going to be excited about the changes they find at the new Terminal A, and ultimately across all of our terminals," said Ken Buchanan, executive vice president for revenue management at DFW. "Our entire team has done an outstanding job of capturing the best of what our passengers will want when they travel, and these enhancements are going to make DFW even more attractive for air travelers."

As much as 50% more concession space will be allocated into villages located near checkpoints and Skylink stations, reminiscent of DFW's globally acclaimed International Terminal D. The concessions outlets are also being upgraded, with the arrival of compelling new concessions choices such as The Salt Lick BBQ, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Ling & Louie's Asian fusion restaurant, Teavana and more along with customer favorites. New self-service technologies in the ticketing hall also make DFW a more modern and more efficient travel hub.

"More than 6,000 people worked on the renovations of the first section of Terminal A in some capacity," said Perfecto Solis, DFW's vice president of Airport Development and Engineering and the technical lead for the TRIP program. "Between jobs in design, construction and contracting work, among others, DFW is creating a vast amount of opportunities to engage our community in a meaningful and representative way."

Key features in the newly redefined section of Terminal A include:

Dramatic enhancements to passenger flow, focusing checkpoints and concessions villages around Skylink people mover stations for ease of movement
Enhanced signage for way-finding, concessions and gates, making it easier for passengers to locate needed services
Two baggage claim areas with digital signage and advertisements
Enhanced and expanded TSA Checkpoint with four security lanes and a larger area after security to re-pack
More self-serve ticket kiosks (11 on airside; 13 on landside)
New heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, as well as a state-of-the-art lighting system featuring harvest day-lighting and backlit LED signage
Energy-efficient glass windows looking out onto the airfield
More than 57,000 square feet of Terrazzo flooring to replace ceramic tile
Higher ceilings, creating an elongated and elevated space
New state-of-the-art fiber optics backbone and communications rooms
The first phase of what will be the largest Public Address Voice Evacuation (PAVE) system in the world.
New floor art medallions located at concourse-level entrances to Skylink
Four new high-capacity elevators for transit between concourse levels

Prior to today's unveiling the first phase of Terminal A, DFW opened the first phase of its new Terminal A Parking structure, which features a host of enhancements including a parking guidance system to show drivers the location of available parking spaces.

All three phases of work on Terminal A and the Terminal A Parking facility should be complete in late 2014, and the entire TRIP project to renovate Terminals A, B, C and E is planned for completion sometime in 2017.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's fourth busiest, offering 1,900 flights per day and serving 58 million passengers a year. DFW provides nonstop service to 148 domestic and 52 international destinations worldwide. For five consecutive years, DFW has ranked in the top five for customer service among large airports worldwide in surveys conducted by Airports Council International. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, visit www.dfwairport.com or download the official DFW Airport mobile app for iOS, Android or Blackberry devices.

About American Airlines

American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, AA.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American's AAdvantage® program, one of the most popular frequent flyer programs in the world, lets members redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

(re)defining DFW International Airport

DFW International Airport's $2.3 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) is (re)defining first class for this global gateway. For the latest details regarding TRIP, log on to www.dfwairport.com/redefine.

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SOURCE DFW International Airport