Business and flight connections strengthen ties and build relationships between regions. The mayor of Dallas,Texas leads a Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport delegation to Germany. The mission supports nonstop passenger and cargo
flights to Europe, which are among the longest-standing routes at DFW, and it
will focus on developing business relationships and travel connections.
Leading the mission are City of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, DFW Airport Board of Directors Chair Lillie Biggins, DFW Airport Board Member Bernice J. Washington and DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue.
“DFW Airport is an international business epicenter contributing more than $31
billion dollars in economic impact every year,” said Dallas Mayor Mike
Rawlings at his presentation. “The Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area has more than 10,000 company headquarters – the largest concentration of corporate headquarters in the United States and is the most business-friendly region in America.

International travel links world economies, builds partnerships and grows our
respective communities. We’re all about connecting the world through DFW
and that is an environment for growth.”
Germany is in the top five on the list of countries represented by international
companies in the DFW region. Among DFW-based businesses, 18 companies
are listed on the FORTUNE 500, the Forbes Global 2000 lists 22 corporations,
and eight companies are shown on the Forbes list of largest privately held firms
in America. More than 200 companies from 34 countries run their U.S.
headquarters or substantial operations from locations within the region. Over
55 companies from Germany have a presence in North Texas.

“The relationships we have with Germany go back a long time,” wrote Fort Worth
Mayor Betsy Price. “Our regions have strong industry connections across
diverse business sectors, such as aerospace and defense, technology,
construction, energy, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and of course,
travel and tourism. A few companies representing these industries include
Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter, Smith & Nephew, DB Schenker, ExxonMobil,
ALDI, BBA Aviation, BAE Systems, Balfour Beatty, Daimler, Siemens and
ThyssenKrupp, with an extensive list of additional companies. Business ties
further reinforce our connections, and this mission gives us an opportunity to
share and build on these relationships.”

For more than 30 years, nonstop flights to Germany have been the mainstays
of international travel from DFW. During this mission, American Airlines
celebrates its 30th year of service to Frankfurt. Lufthansa, which has served
DFW for nearly three decades, turns 60 years old.

“Flights to Europe are among DFW’s most well-established routes. These
routes transport customers and cargo, and are a vital link for trade and tourism
to the U.S., to the North Texas region and the State of Texas,” said Sean
Donohue, CEO for DFW Airport. “It’s important to advance relationships with
our airline partners in Europe. One of our top priorities is to grow the demand
and support for these important routes, increase awareness with key
stakeholders in both regions, and develop nonstop service to new destinations
that connect DFW to the world.”
Two passenger airlines operate nonstop flights to Frankfurt from DFW –
American Airlines and Lufthansa. Lufthansa Cargo serves Manchester,
England from DFW as well. These routes contribute significantly to the regional
economy. One wide-body jet with daily international service to the DFW region
generates an economic impact of approximately $200 million year over year,
and air cargo transport contributes more than $16 billion annually to the
Dallas/Fort Worth economy.

“At DFW, we are focused on growing international passenger and cargo airline
service. As we do that, we are committed to providing an outstanding, one-ofa-
kind experience for our diverse customer base,” said Lillie Biggins, Chair,
DFW Airport Board of Directors. “It also helps that DFW Airport is one of the
lowest cost airports in the United States, which attracted major airlines through
the years. Our goal is to continue to be a leader in operations, customer
service and excellence at every level.”

DFW is committed to maintaining and expanding service from its long-term
partners. Flights to and from Germany are among the top international
destinations for DFW and are included in DFW’s strategic focus for air service.
Since 2011, DFW has added 29 new international routes, which includes 21
new international cities, as well as nine new airlines. DFW is also one of seven
airports worldwide serving more than 200 destinations.

Operating on a mission to connect the world, Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport (DFW) is the world’s third busiest, hosting 1,850 flights a day and
serving more than 62 million customers a year. Located halfway between the
cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport provides nonstop service
to 149 domestic and 55 international destinations. A major economic driver for
the Dallas/Fort Worth region, DFW Airport generates more than $31 billion in
economic impact each year.