American Airlines strengthens presence in Asia-Pacific region

American Airlines launched daily nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Hong Kong and Shanghai on Wednesday - reinforcing the company's commitment to expanding and strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

"DFW Airport, Mayor Price and I have been advocating for more direct access to Asia, knowing the trans-Pacific market is critical for business across the state,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.

"These direct routes connect two of the world's most significant economic centers to DFW and will open new avenues of trade and tourism for our region,” said Sean Donohue, CEO of  DFW International Airport

Hong Kong service

The new daily service between DFW and Hong Kong International Airport will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, marking the first time American will deploy its flagship aircraft to Asia. The aircraft features a three-class cabin configuration with fully lie-flat seats in First and Business Class, international Wi-Fi, and more customer and cargo capacity than any other aircraft currently in American's fleet.

Shanghai service

The new service between DFW and Shanghai Pudong International Airport will be operated with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. American will be retrofitting its entire fleet of 777-200ERs to include fully lie-flat Business Class seats, each with aisle access; new seats in the Main Cabin; in-seat entertainment; and international Wi-Fi capability. The new fully lie-flat Business Class seats on American's 777-200ERs will afford travelers among the largest living space of any 777 Business Class seat offered by any U.S. carrier.

The service to Hong Kong will add a new destination to American's international network, and the service to Shanghai complements American's existing service from Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Dallas/Fort Worth bids farewell to US military charter flights

More than one hundred employees and volunteers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport bid farewell to the final departing U.S. military charter flight on Friday, bringing an end to eight years of scheduled rest and recuperation (R&R) flights at the airport. The flight departed from DFW with a shower of affection water cannon salute from DFW Airport Department of Public Safety fire trucks. With the final flight now airborne, the U.S. Army will close its Personnel Assistance Point (PAP) at DFW Airport, which had processed soldiers and worked with airport-based volunteer groups over the past eight years.

The start of R&R charter flights at DFW for a trial run in late 2003 prompted a grass roots volunteer greeter program known as "Welcome Home A Hero" to welcome each incoming soldier at DFW. That effort helped convince the Army to move the charter flights to DFW on a semi-permanent basis in 2004.

Over the life of the program, "Welcome Home A Hero" program volunteers greeted over 460,000 inbound soldiers transiting through DFW on their way home for two weeks of rest and recuperation from active duty in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Hundreds of local organizations and more than 10,000 individual volunteers greeted soldiers from a total of 2,700 incoming flights.

In January, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command announced it would end the daily R&R charters into DFW and close its PAP at DFW airport, consolidating flights into Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport as military deployment reductions continue overseas. The final arrival into DFW took place two weeks ago on March 14.

“We know it's good news that the Army charter flights are being reduced, because it means fewer of our nation's troops are in harm's way,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport.

The USO facility at DFW airport will remain in operation serving troops. DFW expects about 100,000 individual troops annually will transit through the airport on their travels between the United States and the Middle East.

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