DFW International Airport Counts Down to 'Super Sunday' and Open Skies Agreement

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW International Airport begins the countdown to unprecedented new international air service for North Texas today at http://www.dfwairport.com/openskies, commemorating the historic Open Skies Agreement between the United States and European Union, which begins March 29-30. 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. 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."

DFW's Open Skies Web site seeks to educate and inform the traveling public of the benefits of the Open Skies Agreement and will be updated throughout the month. The Web site will offer 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 today and will continue until the March 30 celebration event.

The Airport has 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.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 1,900 flights per day and serving 60 million passengers a year. Ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports" in North America by J.D. Power and Associates, and named "Best Airport for Customer Service in the Americas" by an Airports Council International survey of passengers in 2006 and 2007, DFW International Airport provides non-stop service to 136 domestic and 40 international destinations worldwide. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, log on to http://www.dfwairport.com.

For J.D. Power and Associates Award information, visit http://www.jdpower.com.