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DFW International Airport Ends Strong Summer With Higher Passenger Loads, Lower Fares

Posted on: Tuesday, 30 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW International Airport will finish a very strong summer travel season with 1.1 million passengers traveling over the Labor Day holiday, between August 31 and September 6. That figure is up one half of one percent despite the loss of 230 daily flights in January as Delta Air Lines dismantled its DFW hub.

Overall, 16.3 million passengers have flown through DFW since Memorial Day, buoyed by lower fares, new destinations and new airlines.

"This solid summer season demonstrates again the strength of the North Texas market and DFW as an airport where airlines believe they can be competitive and successful," said Joe Lopano, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Terminal Management. "Certainly the loss of Delta has been tough and we still have 21 empty gates in Terminal E to fill. But we continue to be cautiously optimistic going into the fall and continue to encourage all airlines to take a hard look at DFW to begin or expand service."

Increased competition by the five low cost carriers at DFW has continued to drive fares down. While the industry saw an average decline of six percent, DFW almost doubled that with an average fare price declining by over 11 percent.

"There is no question that our low fare carriers are having great success and getting new passengers at DFW," adds Lopano. "In addition to the 10 cities served nonstop by our low cost carriers, North Texas consumers can access nearly 70 other cities in the U.S. and Canada by connecting over low cost carrier hubs such as Atlanta, Phoenix, and Denver. And of course, American Airlines continues to be highly competitive by lowering fares and expanding routes."

Mexicana Airlines, which just two months ago started service at DFW to Zacatecas and Morelia, Mexico, began additional service to Guadalajara, Mexico, on August 17.

Additionally new service is on the horizon at DFW with the arrival of a new carrier, Alaska Airlines on September 12 with nonstop service to Seattle, one of DFW's largest markets.

American Eagle will also expand this fall with new service from DFW to Columbia, South Carolina, and Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi, in October. Both locations had been previously served by Delta before the closing of its hub.

American Airlines will begin its long awaited service to Osaka, Japan, in November. Service had become regular prior to September 11, 2001 but was discontinued soon after.

New service will also begin on American Airlines to two new international destinations, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Guanacaste, Liberia, in Costa Rica, starting in February 2006.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 2,000 flights per day and serving 57 million passengers a year. DFW International Airport provides non-stop service to 130 domestic and 38 international destinations worldwide. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, log on to http://www.dfwairport.com/ .

DFW International Airport

CONTACT: Ken Capps, Vice President Public Affairs of DFW InternationalAirport, +1-972-574-8080, or Kcapps@dfwairport.com

Web site: http://www.dfwairport.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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