AVIATION HUB

Along with its plentiful sights and activities, Dallas is also a major aviation centre, with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) serving as one of the key hubs of national carrier American Airlines, particularly for its flights serving Asia-Pacific. “DFW is vital in American’s network as the premier connecting point between Asia and South America,” says Bimal Vadhani, senior manager of international operations at DFW. “The airport connects a large number of passengers from our China markets to Santiago [Chile] and Sao Paolo [Brazil] destinations. Cancun is also a popular destination for our customers from Seoul.”

American Airlines’ commitment to the airport was displayed on October 25, 2017, when after a US$10 million investment it opened the first fully virtual Control Center in its network. The 10,000-square-foot (929 sqm) space sports a virtual wall providing a real-time view of the airline’s operations, which comprise close to 800 flights per day.

“The facility is an investment for our team members and customers that will create a better experience across the board,” says Cedric Rockamore, vice president of American Airlines’ DFW Hub. “It’s exciting to see our hub changing for the better.”

The carrier currently flies to five destinations in Asia from DFW: Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), Hong Kong (HKG), Tokyo (NRT) and Seoul (ICN). Rival US carrier Delta Air Lines also flies from DFW to Seoul (ICN).