Plans "Super Sunday" Event March 30
DFW International Airport in North Texas is counting down the
days -- literally -- until the historic Open Skies Agreement
between the United States and European Union goes into effect at
the end of March.
DFW is hailing March 30 "Super Sunday," inaugurating new
international service to London Heathrow via American Airlines and
British Airways and Amsterdam Schiphol via KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines. On that day, the airport will hold a multi-cultural
celebration in its International Terminal D to toast arriving and
departing passengers and commemorate the new economic infusion for
the North Texas economy.
"March 30 will be the single largest increase in international
air service in one day since DFW opened in 1974," said Jeff Fegan,
CEO of DFW. "Adding a brand new international carrier in KLM and
two new strategic destinations in London and Amsterdam will give
our passengers more flights, more connections and more competition
than ever before."
The airport's dedicated Open Skies website will be updated
throughout the month, offering podcasts giving travelers tips on
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, London Heathrow and DFW. Users can also
view DFW's official Open Skies Countdown Clock, which began running
Monday and will continue until the March 30 celebration.
DFW officials have designated 2008 as "The Year of the
International Traveler" as DFW's global destinations continue to
grow. The rules for international air travel will change in April
with the advent of the US-EU Open Skies Agreement, which allows US
airlines unlimited access to EU airports and the right to fly to
airports in the EU single market.
In return, EU airlines can fly from any EU airport to any US
airport and then on to other countries. DFW was the first airport
in the world awarded new service under Open Skies, announcing
British Airways DFW-Heathrow service last year. Since then,
American Airlines has announced two flights to London Heathrow, and
KLM announced it would serve DFW for the first time and fly to
Amsterdam Schiphol.
"The new international service will put North Texas on a world
stage like never before," said Joe Lopano, executive vice president
of marketing and terminal management for DFW. "We are getting
improved connectivity by virtue of being linked to two of the
world's premier international hubs. Heathrow and Schiphol alone
will link DFW passengers with approximately 230 unique destinations
across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India."
In addition, DFW travelers will soon be linked from the
airport's award-winning International Terminal D to London
Heathrow's new Terminal 5 -- scheduled to open later this month.
And Amsterdam Schiphol is perennially recognized as one of the
world's top international airports for passenger amenities.