DFW International Airport to become the Middle East’s leading gateway to the Americas

DUBAI- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) officials visiting Dubai for the Arabian Travel Market taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 5 – 8 have announced that 2014 will see more new international direct routes at DFW offering more convenience and choices for travelers.

Qatar announced it would begin service to DFW this July and Etihad Airways announced new direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth beginning December 3, 2014. Last month, Emirates announced it plans to upgrade its daily service to DFW with the A380 aircraft beginning October 1. By the end of 2014, DFW will be one of only four airports in the U.S. hosting all three Gulf State carriers.

“With the launch of these flights and the extensive networks the Gulf State carriers provide to destinations in the Indian Sub-Continent, East Africa and the Middle East, travelers will have greater and more convenient access to all major cities in the United States,” said Ken Buchanan, DFW Executive Vice President. “The DFW region is the fastest growing region in the United States with a diverse industry set and home to two great cities, Dallas and Fort Worth. We do everything we can to help travelers have a first rate experience at DFW whether DFW is their destination, or they are connecting. Our goal is for DFW to be the preeminent global hub and we develop services and amenities to enhance the customer experience.”

DFW is just four hours from every major city in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and provides 147 direct destinations, many with multiple flights a day from DFW. With Etihad, Qatar and Emirates all flying to DFW travelers entering the U.S. now have unprecedented and more convenient access into the Americas,” said Buchanan.

“DFW also seeks to provide a world class customer experience and it is our aim to become the U.S. gateway of choice for travelers from the Middle East.”

In its 40-year history, DFW Airport has grown into one of the world’s preeminent global hubs, now serving 61 million passengers annually and consistently ranking among the world’s best large airports for customer service.

Customer-centric features such as free Wi-Fi, Minute Suites, spas, a Group Zone that groups can reserve when traveling together, yoga studio, $6 million art collection, and newly-added lounges, eateries and entertainment choices for customers have kept DFW as a top choice for both business and leisure passengers. This year, Premier Traveler Magazine named DFW the best airport.

DFW provides one of the quickest immigration and customs experiences of all airports in the United States and in recent surveys, Emirates passengers have rated their overall customs experience at DFW an impressive 8.67 out of 10.

To improve the customer experience and greatly reduce wait times in Customs, DFW has implemented a self-processing system called Automated Passport Control. With this system, U.S and Canadian citizen and travelers from all visa waiver countries, can immediately walk up to a kiosk, insert their passport and self-process. U.S. Customs lines are now greatly reduced allowing other international passengers to more quickly get through Customs. The new system has reduced most Customs wait times to 20-30 minutes.

Additionally DFW is also engaged in a program with U.S. Customs to invest up to $3 million dollars to increase staffing hours for Customs officers to expedite the Customs process for international travelers.

“As one of only seven airports in the world to have over 200 direct, nonstop destinations, DFW connects communities, cultures, and is the economic driver for business and investment opportunities between North Texas and the world – the Middle East being of particular interest to us,” said Buchanan.

Since February, 2012, DFW Airport has strategically worked in partnership with Dubai Airport Freezone through a Memorandum of Understanding to expand the business links between the two hubs.

Additionally, regular air service development missions are conducted between the Gulf States and DFW to broaden and deepen relationships and promote the advantages of flying to DFW.

“With the expansion of flights between the two regions, we expect business and leisure opportunities will also expand that will drive more flights and great success for the airlines at DFW,” said Buchanan. “We greatly value our customers, airline partners and business relationships and that is one of the reasons we continue to be here at the Arabian Travel Market.”

While Dallas and Fort Worth are at the heart of business and home to 18 Fortune 500 companies, it also offers unique tourism attractions with its cowboys, culture and urban lifestyle experiences.

“Many tourists from the Gulf States and beyond tend to visit multiple U.S. cities when visiting the United States. Dallas and Fort Worth are both fascinating tourist destinations in their own right and DFW International Airport with its customer focus, world class facilities, and extensive domestic network provides the perfect entry point and gateway for their trip to the Americas,” said Buchanan.