DFW Airport Opens First Direct Gateway To China

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas (December 4, 2003) — DFW solidified its preeminent position as the leader in Asian Cargo for the South and Eastern United States today, announcing that China Cargo Airlines will begin service to Shanghai in February 2004. DFW's Asian cargo business has been surging for the past two years, and today's announcement gives shippers unprecedented access to China from Texas.

The new flight will also link China to Central and South America through DFW as the Airport continues to expand its cargo business around the globe. The new China Cargo Airlines flight to and from Shanghai is initially estimated to generate over $13 M dollars in economic impact for North Texas every year.

“This is an extraordinary development for North Texas to now have direct access to one of our nation's largest trading partners," says Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW. "The opportunities for trade and business development are huge. And of course, we hope passenger service will one day follow cargo service on the next horizon." 

China Cargo Airlines is the cargo arm of China Eastern Airline Group. The airline will establish a new station at DFW in the Airport's International Air Cargo Centre, and operate an MD11 Freighter between China and Texas. Key shipments will include apparel, high tech equipment, toys and other consumer goods. Service will be three times weekly. Initiating service to China has been a strategic imperative for DFW, and the Airport has worked extensively with officials in China to inaugurate the flight.

“This is a critical addition to our business and one that will present new major economic impact for North Texas,” says Joe Lopano, executive vice president of marketing at DFW. “Even as the entire airline and airport industries struggled in the months following 9/11, DFW’s cargo trade with Asia was a bright spot. Now as the economy continues to rebound, this new gateway will provide further growth and a multitude of opportunities for local businesses and businesses around the world.”

Asian cargo business has grown almost 130 percent since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and now comprises almost 19 percent of DFW’s total cargo. Currently, DFW is served by four Asian cargo airlines, connecting to such Asia Pacific destinations as Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The new Shanghai service is the first to directly link to DFW to China.