American Airlines to debut electronic gates at DFW Airport to expedite travel time

American Airlines on Tuesday unveiled plans allowing travelers to board their flights without a gate agent scanning a boarding pass. In an announcement, the Fort Worth carrier said it will debut electronic boarding gates at DFW's Terminal C pier expansion gates, as well as the airport's Terminal A expansion later this year. The pier expansions are part of the airline's effort to modernize and expand its dominant DFW presence.

American will operate nearly 20 Argus Air XS electronic gates, which will allow employees to focus on other critical tasks, the airline noted. The gates will provide touch screen instructions to passengers, validate their boarding passes before opening and help regulate jet bridge traffic, according to American.

American will be the first major U.S. airline to "install dormakaba electronic boarding gates at scale at a major U.S. airport hub," it said, referencing the company that made the product. The decision to make the gates permanent comes after American began piloting them at DFW last year. American controls more than 80% of the market share at DFW Airport, its central hub.

American did not offer a specific date, but the gates are scheduled to debut when the Terminal C pier expansion, which is expected to open this summer, is up and running.

However, the company tied expedited boarding and decamping to overall client satisfaction, at a time when long lines at overly bustling airports are emerging as a key frustration for travelers.

"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," American's Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in a statement.

"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."

The gates are the latest in a series of investments the airline has made to streamline its boarding procedures. In May, American added five minutes to boarding times and rolled out updated boarding groups. The airline previously said the changes improved on-time departures and reduced gate-checked bags by 25%.

E-gates are becoming increasingly common at major airports. The Transportation Security Administration and CLEAR continue to expand their technology at security checkpoints. Last year, CLEAR's biometric gates were rolled out at Dallas Love Field, the headquarters of Southwest Airlines.