Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) Terminals

The airport consists of five opposing semicircular terminals (A, B, C, D, E), with the International Parkway and other road systems running in between. On the inside of each semicircle terminal is a parking lot. Terminals C and D also have airport hotels.

Photo by Briana Tozour - Unsplash

Connection between the terminals

Pre-Security

All terminals are well connected outside of the secure area via the free Terminal Link shuttle bus. This shuttle bus stops at all terminals from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. with an out-of-hours service available by calling 972-574-5465. Buses operate every 10 minutes from the departures level of each terminal, excluding Terminal D where pick-up and drop-off are from the arrivals level.

Terminal Link shuttle buses operate from:

• Terminal A – Departures Level
  • Entrance A10 for Gate A1 through Gate A20 and DFW Airport DART Rail Station
  • Entrance A29 for Gate A21 through Gate A39
• Terminal B – Departures Level
  • Entrance B14 for Gate B1 through Gate B25
  • Entrance B43 for Gate B26 through Gate B49 and DFW Airport TEXRail Station
• Terminal C (Departures Level)
  • Entrance C4 for Gate C1 through Gate C20
  • Entrance C30 for Gate C21 through Gate C39
• Terminal D (Arrivals Level)
  • Entrance at Lower Level D17 for Gate D1 through Gate D22
  • Entrance at Lower Level D29 for Gate D23 through Gate D40
• Terminal E (Departures Level)
  • Entrance E14 for Gate E2 through Gate E18
  • Entrance E35 for Gate E20 through Gate E38

Post-Security

The free Skylink light rail enables passengers to connect between terminals while remaining within the secure area (if your flight arrival permits, depending on customs and immigration requirements).

The train operates 24/7 and departs every 2 minutes from two stations within every terminal. With trains running clockwise and counter-clockwise, the maximum ride time between the furthest points is only 9 minutes. 

On the other hand, ground transportation is accessible from the inner, landside (pre-security) areas of each terminal.

Terminal A

Terminal A has 3 levels:
Level 0 (Lower level), Level 1 (Departures and Check-in), Level 3 (Skylink stop - between A13 - A16 and A29 - A34)

This terminal is composed of 26 gates and is used exclusively by American Airlines. Terminal A is connected to Terminals B and C with airside walkways.

To reach Terminal B by foot, take the escalator or lift opposite gate 39 to the Skylink walkway. To reach Terminal C, the walkway is located just past gate 39 on the same level as departures. Both options have moving walkways.

Terminal B

Terminal B has 3 levels:
Level 0 (Lower level - Arrivals and access to transportation), Level 1 (Departures and Check-in), Level 3 (Skylink stop - between B9 - B12 and B28 - B31)

This Terminal is composed of 45 gates and also exclusively serves American Airlines flights for domestic routes only. Terminal B is connected to Terminals A and B via airside walkways.

To reach Terminal A from B, continue past gate B4 and take the elevator or lift up to the Skylink walkway where there are moving walkways to Terminal A.

To connect to Terminal D, continue walking through the terminal past gate B1 and the yoga studio where it will curve around to the right into Terminal D. There are no moving walkways on this route.

Terminal C

Terminal C has 4 levels:
Level 0 (Lower level - Arrivals), Level 1 (Departures and Check-in), Level 2 (Mezzanine), Level 3 (Skylink stop - between C8 - C12 and C27 - C32)

This Terminal is composed of  28 gates and also exclusively serves American Airlines. Terminal C connects to Terminal A via an airside walkway that is accessible just past gate C2 on the departures level.

For Terminal D connections, take the elevator or escalator just past gate C2 up to level 3 for the Skylink walkway, where moving walkways will take you across to Terminal D.

Terminal D

Terminal D has 4 levels:
Level 0 (Lower level - Arrivals), Level 1 (Departures and Check-in), Level 2 (Mezzanine), Level 3 (Skylink stop - between D11 - D20 and D24 - D34)

This Terminal is composed of  28 gates and represents the DFW’s international terminal, with a variety of airlines operating from its 28 gates. The terminal also serves some domestic arrivals and departures.

Terminals B and C are accessible airside from Terminal D by walking past gate D40 and around the corner on the same level until you reach Terminal B, or by taking the escalator or elevator to the Skylink connector bridge to reach Terminal C.

Terminal E

Terminal D has 4 levels:
Level -1 (Tunnel), Level 0 (lower level - Arrivals), Level 1 (Departures and Check-in), Level 3 (Skylink stop - between E8 - E11 and E31 - E32)

This Terminal is composed of  28 gates serving flights across the United States and Canada. As the only terminal not directly connected to another with any walkways, all connections to and from Terminal E must be made via the Skylink to maintain airside access or by riding the landside Terminal Link shuttle service bus and re-clearing security at your connecting terminal.