Aiming for a “more seamless, user-friendly, and consistent boarding experience,” American Airlines plans to launch electronic boarding gates at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport beginning this summer. The gates—created by Switzerland-based dormakaba Group—automatically validate boarding passes before opening, allowing customers to proceed smoothly to the plane.

The planned launch follows a pilot program American launched last year, and will be the first large-scale use of dormakaba’s gates by a major U.S. airline at a major U.S. hub airport, American said.

Heather Garboden, American’s chief customer officer, said that “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.”

“This innovative change is part of a broader shift toward creating a more intuitive travel journey,” she added in a statement, “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.”

‘Advancing the future of air travel’

The new gates are one way American is advancing “the future of air travel,” the company said, giving customers clearer guidance and a more predictable path from the gate to the aircraft.

“Nearly 20” of the dormakaba Argus Air XS electronic boarding gates will be installed at American’s new Terminals A and C pier expansions, scheduled to open this year.

Beyond automatically validating boarding passes, the gates will also speed the boarding process by:

:: Streamlining manual tasks for American gate agents during boarding, allowing them more time to provide customer service and “operationally critical tasks.”

:: Providing clear, American-branded touchscreen instructions so customers know what to do.

:: Regulating the pace of boarding to reduce congestion and improve jet bridge flow.

‘Another step forward’

“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, American’s SVP of DFW hub operations. “This is another step forward in creating a modern, seamless journey for customers, while keeping our people at the center of the experience.”

American’s pier expansions at Terminals A and C are part of a multiyear modernization project of DFW, aimed at delivering “a smoother and enhanced experience for customers and team members.” The new gates will do more than simplify customers’ boarding experiences—they’re also aimed at enhancing American’s “already rigorous security standards,” the carrier said.

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