DFW International Airport Hosts Largest Online Auction In Its History

(DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – January 8, 2007) – DFW International Airport kicks off its fifth online auction this morning at 8 a.m., selling hundreds of surplus vehicles and equipment that were used to build International Terminal D and the Skylink people mover system. The auction will also include portable buildings, office equipment and a variety of audio-visual items in prime condition and ready for use. 

DFW is hoping to raise more than $3 million in the auction, which would make it the largest online venture in Airport history. The auction runs through February 2 and is available for browsing at www.dfwairport.com or at www.renebates.com, the web site of Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. of McKinney, Texas, the firm that handles DFW’s online auctions. 

“We are extremely proud of our online auction track record of bringing new revenue to the Airport while selling goods and equipment to businesses and others in our community and around the world,” said John Wesley White, vice president of procurement at DFW. “The Internet has proven to be an extremely cost-effective way to reach a very broad audience in a short amount of time to sell thousands of surplus items.”

The Airport began online auctions as a pilot program in 2003, with 70 lots of merchandise netting $50,000. Each proceeding auction has set a new record, with the last auction generating more than $500,000 in sales and over five million hits to the host Web sites. 

Sales have come from around North Texas, across the country, and from faraway bidders in Europe, Central and South America. The latest auction will feature over 1,800 lots of merchandise, primarily from the recently completed Capital Development Program. Lots will be closed for bidding on a staggered basis from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. starting January 29 and ending February 2. 

Items are available for inspection from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at various locations throughout the Airport during the auction period. Interested individuals may call 972-574-4741 or 469-323-0100 for directions.