DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW International Airport will welcome its newest cargo airline on Saturday as Cathay Pacific Cargo lands its first freighter aircraft at DFW. Fifty metric tonnes of cargo will arrive at DFW on each of the three weekly flights from Hong Kong. Seven million dollars of new economic activity will be generated annually due to Cathay Pacific's new flights to North Texas.
"This new service at DFW will greatly improve our service to shippers," said Tom Wright, Senior Vice President of Americas for Cathay Pacific Cargo. "We will be accessing new markets and cutting delivery times. Expanding our U.S. network is a significant step for the airline and Hong Kong."
"DFW is proud to welcome Cathay Pacific Cargo to Texas," said Joe Lopano, executive vice president of marketing and terminal management for DFW. "This is the kind of international business growth and expansion that makes our Airport the economic engine of North Texas. We've worked very hard for eight years to bring Cathay Pacific to Texas and we're very proud and confident that DFW will become a major U.S. market for this terrific carrier."
The additional Cathay Pacific Cargo flights will boost the more than 40 percent growth rate of cargo between Asia and DFW during the past two years. The almost 16,000 tonnes of new cargo per year represents asignificant increase to an already impressive 245,000 tonnes of international cargo moved at DFW annually. DFW handles 65 percent of all the air cargo in Texas.
"Hong Kong is the largest cargo hub in the world and this new flight is a critical link between our region and that corner of the world," said Bill Frainey, assistant vice president of marketing for DFW in charge of cargo development. "We continue to make a strong case to international cargo carriers that we have one of the best cargo markets in the United States. We now have six Asian cargo carriers and we believe more growth is in our future."
Upon departing DFW, the Cathay Pacific Cargo 747-400 will fly to Atlanta before returning home to Hong Kong.
In addition to 300 tonnes of products delivered to DFW each week, Cathay Pacific has hired four new employees and contracted for ground service crews which will add additional jobs to the airport community.
"The Hong Kong-DFW market grew almost 46 percent in 2004 alone," said Lopano. "The majority of DFW's cargo exports will be capital goods such as consumer electronics and oil refining equipment. Imports into DFW will consist of garments, computer equipment, and integrated circuits."
In addition Asian freighter cargo has almost doubled every two years since 1993, with 34 percent annual growth rate since 1993.
The new Cathay Pacific service will operate each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On the ground for just two hours, the Cathay Pacific Cargo flight will unload cargo destined for the Midwest and Southwest before loading new cargo destined for Hong Kong and beyond.
The addition of new carriers like Cathay Pacific speaks to the vitality of the region and shippers' ability to reach more than 50 million customers within 24 hours by truck. In addition, the International Air Cargo Centre and other facilities at DFW have approximately 3 million square feet of cargo facilities, with more than 200 truck dock doors and ramp parking for eight 747s. The Airport will see the addition of 118,000 square feet of cargo facilities opening this month, and the ability to handle an additional three 747s or two A380s as Phase III of the International Air Cargo Centre is opened.
SOURCE DFW International Airport
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