DFW Skylink

---

title: "DFW Skylink" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["airport-people-mover-systems-in-the-united-states", "dallas/fort-worth-international-airport", "innovia-people-movers", "public-transportation-in-texas", "railway-lines-opened-in-2005"] description: "Automated people mover at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFW_Skylink" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Automated people mover at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rail line"]

Field	Value
box_width	auto
name	Skylink
color	F16824
logo	File:DFW Skylink icon and wordmark.svg
logo_width	250px
logo_alt	"Skylink" in orange next to an icon depicting the system's Innovia APM 200 vehicle
image	File:Skylink at Terminal E.jpg
image_width	250px
caption	Skylink stopped at a Terminal E station
type	Automated people mover
status	Operational
locale	Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
stations	10 (+1 planned)
ridership2	5,000 passengers per direction per hour
open
owner	DFW Airport Board
operator	Alstom
character	Elevated
stock	Innovia APM 200
linelength	4.81 mi
tracks	2
electrification	Third rail
speed	37 mph
map	{{switcher
{{maplink-road	from
{{DFW Skylink	inline
::

| box_width = auto | name = Skylink | color = F16824 | logo = File:DFW Skylink icon and wordmark.svg | logo_width = 250px | logo_alt = "Skylink" in orange next to an icon depicting the system's Innovia APM 200 vehicle | image = File:Skylink at Terminal E.jpg | image_width = 250px | caption = Skylink stopped at a Terminal E station | type = Automated people mover | system = | status = Operational | locale = Dallas Fort Worth International Airport | stations = 10 (+1 planned) | routes = | daily_ridership = | ridership2 = 5,000 passengers per direction per hour | open = | close = | owner = DFW Airport Board | operator = Alstom | character = Elevated | stock = Innovia APM 200 | linelength = 4.81 mi | tracklength = | tracks = 2 | gauge = | electrification = Third rail | speed = 37 mph | elevation = | map = {{switcher | Skylink highlighted in orange | Show interactive map | | Show route diagram

Skylink is an automated people mover (APM) system operating at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The bi-directional system connects the airsides of the airport's five terminals.

Skylink contains 10 stations (2 per terminal) and 4.81 mi of elevated track. It utilizes Innovia APM 200 vehicles and is operated by the vehicles' manufacturer, Alstom, under contract with DFW.

The system was opened in 2005 as a replacement for DFW's original APM system, the Vought Airtrans. At opening, it was the world's longest airside airport train system (AirTrain JFK is longer but operates landside).

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/DFW_Skylink_from_plane.jpg" caption="Skylink operating in 2008 in the older blue livery before the airport's 2015 refresh to orange."] ::

Skylink was developed as a replacement for the Vought Airtrans (part of which was later operated as American Airlines' TrAAin System), the airport's original people mover system that connected airport facilities and parking lots. It served the airport for 31 years from 1974 to 2005 and transported a quarter of a billion passengers between DFW's then four terminals and employee facilities, logging a total of 97 e6mi over the lifetime of its fleet. As DFW became a large connecting hub for flights, Airtrans was noted for being slow with its top speed of 17 mph and following a uni-directional counter-clockwise loop located inside security for Terminals A, B, and C and outside security to other areas, was inefficient in moving passengers. The system was decommissioned soon after Skylink opened as a modern replacement and the old guideways were left in place throughout the airport.

Skylink guideway construction began in the fall of 1999 and took place with limited interruption of aircraft traffic. Contractors worked during overnight hours for 3 years – when airline gates were unused – arriving on site, completing work and removing equipment each morning before returning gates to an airline.

The system made its public debut on June 25, 2004, where it then began a rigorous testing period.

In 2015, after a decade of service, Skylink had transported over 141 million people and traveled over 32.4 e6mi.

Operations

The Skylink system operates airside at DFW, mostly serving passengers connecting between flights, and is inaccessible to those who have not cleared security.

Skylink operates trains 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The system is double-tracked and both tracks are operational between 5 am and midnight. Between midnight and 5 am, one track may be taken out of operation to allow for maintenance. The system has crossovers between the Terminal D stations and the Terminal E stations. There are also pocket tracks in the sections of the guideway that cross International Parkway.

The longest trip between farthest stations is 9 minutes with an average 5 minute journey. This allows most passengers to make a connection from any one flight to another in around seven minutes, not including walking time to and from the stations. The train supports a minimum airline connection time of 30 minutes.

The Skylink system uses a total of 64 Innovia APM 200 vehicles, coupled together into two car trains. Each Skylink vehicle can accommodate up to 69 passengers and their carry-on luggage. The Innovia APM 200 technology is also used at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 as well as the PHX Sky Train.

The audio announcements on SkyLink are provided by local voice-over artist Doc Morgan.

Structure

The concrete and steel guideway for Skylink, elevated at an average of 50 ft, was constructed above the terminals on 375 columns in a 4.81 mi bi-directional loop. The inner track travels clockwise and the outer track travels counter-clockwise.

Each of the five terminals contains two stations which are accessed on the secure (air) side. Unlike the previous Vought Airtrans APM system, Skylink only connects terminals and does not travel to the airport's parking lots or rental car facility. The stations contain four sets of doors on each platform for entrance and exiting of passengers. Two more stations can be constructed for a future Terminal F if it is built.

Gallery

| File:Skylink Interior.jpg | Interior of a Skylink car | File:DFWSkylinkStation.jpg | A Skylink station inside Terminal A | File:DFWSkylinkStationoutside.jpg | Skylink pulling into station (Platform shown is for emergencies only; passengers normally exit through sliding doors directly into terminal.) | File:Skylinkaerial.jpg | Skylink guideway above Terminal E (left) and Express South Parking Lot/future site of Terminal F (right)

References

References

1. "Skylink: The Quick and Easy Link Between Terminals".
2. DFW International Airport. (June 25, 2004). "DFW International Airport Debuts New SkyLink People Mover System".
3. Marta, Suzanne. (May 8, 2005). "A lot riding on the train - The speedier Skylink may pull in more connecting fliers - and D/FW revenue". The Dallas Morning News.
4. Marta, Suzanne. (June 20, 2005). "Airtrans pulling into station for good - D/FW people-mover replaced by Skylink will make final trip Tuesday". The Dallas Morning News.
5. Public Affairs Department. (June 21, 2005). "DFW International Airport Bids Farewell to Venerable Airport Train System – 97 Million Miles and 250 Million Passengers Later". Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
6. (May 21, 2005). "DFW International Airport Debuts World's Largest Airport People Mover System".
7. (February 3, 2006). "Bombardier Innovia Technology".
8. (February 3, 2006). "DFW International Airport Skylink System".
9. Corgan Associates. (May 20, 2005). "(untitled)".
10. DFW Airport. (August 24, 2015). "Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Celebrates A Decade of International Terminal D, Skylink and the Grand Hyatt DFW". PR Newswire.
11. (August 15, 2023). "Central Terminal Area Expansion Project Appendix G2: Terminals E & F". Komatsu Architecture.
12. (February 3, 2007). "Skylink, the World's Largest Airport Train".
13. "DFW SkyLink FAQs".
14. (May 21, 2005). "Skylink Opens to the Traveling Public after Five Years of Planning and Construction; High School Band Plays "Celebration" to Start Operations".
15. (5 July 2005). "D/FW's Skylink has a Familiar Voice".

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