American Airlines set to scale dormakaba’s electronic boarding gates

FORT WORTH, Texas—American Airlines has launched electronic boarding gates at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Following a successful pilot in November 2025, American is installing dormakaba electronic boarding gates at scale, 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 American’s Heather Garboden, chief customer officer. “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.

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