Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: Best International Gateway into the United States

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport is building on its reputation as the best entry point into the U.S., and the world is noticing. Over the past 24 months, DFW has experienced a record run of twelve new international destinations. Additionally, DFW has ranked in the top five for customer service among large airports worldwide in surveys conducted by Airports Council International for the past five years, making it one of the world’s most highly regarded airports. All of these achievements will be highlighted at the 18th World Routes Development Forum taking place September 29 to October 2 in Abu Dhabi.

“DFW Airport continues to be recognized as one of the top international gateways in the world, and our region is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S.,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. “That makes a very compelling combination, and that's why we are so excited to talk to the world's top airlines about starting service to DFW."

New international routes, more carriers, and increases in air service destinations confirm DFW’s place as a global super hub with its most prolific growth period ever for worldwide route expansion in 2011 and 2012.

“Our core mission is connecting the world to Dallas/Fort Worth, and DFW has experienced the best growth in its history for new international flights over the past 24 months,” said Fegan. “With more than 190 available destinations, DFW has become the key global point of entry in the central U.S. We are poised to build on that success.”

DFW's record-breaking recent success in landing twelve new international destinations is highlighted by nonstop service on Qantas to Australia and by the arrival of Emirates with daily service between DFW and Dubai. DFW also welcomed new service to Rio de Janeiro and Barbados on American Airlines, new American Eagle service to Mazatlan, Morelia, Querétaro, and Veracruz in Mexico, and new Sun Country service to the Dominican Republic. With four Canadian destinations, nonstop service to 33 cities in Latin American and 18 cities in Mexico, DFW serves as the major gateway to the Americas.

In July 2012, Qantas increased to daily nonstop service to Brisbane/Sydney. Spirit Airlines added new daily service to Toluca, Mexico, near Mexico City in June. Also, Cayman Airways began service to the Grand Cayman Islands in June, and DFW welcomed KLM nonstop service to Amsterdam in July.

Adding to DFW’s record expansion, new domestic service from Virgin America, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue brought more flight options and competition to Dallas-Fort Worth passengers, as did flights to four new domestic markets by American Eagle.

For international travelers, customs at DFW is already an easy, expedient process that quickly sends travelers on their way. To enhance customer convenience for frequent international travelers, DFW is a participating airport in the *Global Entry Trusted Traveler program.

With the Global Entry program, pre-authorized, frequent international travelers will have the ability to bypass the traditional passport lines and skip paper customs declaration forms when reentering the country through DFW. This program is designed to further expedite entry into the U.S. at participating airports, like DFW, and around the country.

Already one of the most hi-tech airports in the U.S., DFW is excited about one of its most requested customer enhancements, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi, starting in September, thanks to a deal with Dallas-based AT&T.

“To provide AT&T Wi-Fi access across DFW Airport is a tremendous leap forward for our passengers in terms of speed and coverage area,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. “Complimentary AT&T Wi-Fi service, along with the many other customer enhancements, truly does make DFW the best place to enter the U.S.”

Just as Global Entry and free Wi-Fi help enhance the DFW experience, DFW offers ways for passengers to stay healthy, too. As one of the healthiest airports in the United States, all DFW restaurants offer at least one healthy entrée option. To complement this program, DFW recently opened the LiveWell Walking Path and the DFW Yoga Studio. DFW teamed up with the American Heart Association for this measured path, which utilizes DFW’s outstanding collection of artwork in International Terminal D as milestones.