DFW Airport News Briefs - May 2013

DFW Airport Lowers Landing Fees For Airlines
The Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport Board has agreed to lower landing fees for its airlines by $9 million through the remainder of the fiscal year, making the Airport even more cost competitive for airlines. From June through the end of September, the landing fee will be reduced by 69 cents to $2.36 per 1,000 pounds of maximum gross landing weight of an aircraft. This cost benefit for the airlines comes as the Airport is experiencing a surplus of revenue totaling $13.5 million more than projected for fiscal year 2013. Much of the revenue surplus is attributed to concessions and rental car service, both performing over budget as the Airport continues to experience an uptick in passenger traffic. “DFW Airport is knocking it out of the park this year and achieving all of its goals,” said Chief Financial Officer Chris Poinsatte.

Expanding Service to Seoul, South Korea 
DFW Airport will see a considerable expansion of service to Seoul, South Korea next week. American Airlines is beginning non-stop, daily service from DFW Airport to Seoul on May 9 aboard Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Korean Air, meanwhile, is expanding its service from five times weekly to daily, non-stop service beginning May 6. Together these flights will support the rise in international travel, providing business and leisure travelers better access between Seoul, South Korea and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. With DFW Airport conveniently located less than four hours by air from most major cities across the United States, Asian travelers can take advantage of seamless, one-stop travel to reach destinations in America, Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Likewise, travelers heading to Seoul, South Korea non-stop can now more readily connect to destinations in across Asia.

DFW Airport Honors Life-Saving Efforts
The DFW Airport Board also recognized two local citizens for their life-saving efforts in rescuing a disabled man from his vehicle after it caught on fire March 29 outside of Terminal A. The Airport’s Department of Public Safety awarded both Walter Vaughn and Kristina Gish with a “Citizen Recognition Award” certificate. Vaughn, who works as a valet at Freedom Park, rescued T.J. Griffin, who was trapped in the front seat of his burning van parked outside of Terminal A. Gish, an airline passenger just arriving in a cab, also assisted with the rescue. Both managed to pull Griffin away from his van moments before it exploded in flames.

“People don’t just jump into a van and save someone’s life,” said Griffin following the award ceremony at the DFW Board meeting. “I don’t even know how to go about explaining just what these two people have done for me, and what they mean to me. Because of them I get to live the rest of my life.”

(re)defining DFW International Airport

DFW International Airport’s $2.3 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) is (re)defining first class for this global gateway. For the latest details regarding TRIP, log on to www.dfwairport.com/redefine.