DFW To Use Route Development Skills To Become 'Super-Global' Cargo Hub

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), already a global passenger hub for American Airlines, wants to become "a super-global logistics centre" as it uses its central geographic location to attract even more cargo airlines, Milton de la Paz, assistant vice president for DFW, tells Routesonline at Routes Americas.

"Because of our geographic location, we're the ideal connection point for cargo - and passengers - between Asia, Europe and Latin America," he says. DFW is developing a new perishables area in the airport, and the project includes improving airport access and infrastructure for all who use the airport. The airport board is expected to receive this project for approval shortly.

DFW, one of the few airports to offer both passenger and cargo incentives, has seen a burgeoning cargo business from both types of airlines. American Airlines will launch DFW-Beijing in May 2015. DFW also has daily non-stops to Tokyo, Seoul, London, Madrid, Frankfurt and Paris.

Despite getting the new long-haul passenger service to Asia, and new cargo-only carriers, de la Paz says "cargo demand is still greater than the supply of space in the bellies of passenger aircraft".

The airport has cargo-only flights by Cathay Pacific, Singapore, Korean Air, Asiana, Eva Air, Air China, China Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines. What the airport lacks is a cargo carrier from Latin America.

A recent study showed DFW leadership that cargo represents a surprisingly large 50 per cent of its $32 billion economic impact to North Texas. "Passenger flights are sexy for the media, but there's a lot of money in the cargo business," he adds.