British Airways Switches Flight To Heathrow
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and British Airways
announced Wednesday British Airways will move its daily
DFW–London Gatwick flight to London’s Heathrow Airport
starting March 30, 2008. The announcement, made in London by
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh and DFW CEO Jeff Fegan, marks the
first major international flight change since the new 'Open Skies'
agreement between the European Union and the United States took effect April 30.
The new flight will also connect millions of international
travelers at DFW to Heathrow's top global destinations. Fegan
sealed the deal with British Airways and Walsh by presenting him a
Texas-made cowboy hat and black cowboy boots at the airline’s
London headquarters.
"We will be delighted to welcome DFW travelers to London
Heathrow," said Walsh, "Next year already promises to be a
significant year for British Airways as we move into our new home,
Terminal 5. The state-of-the-art terminal, one of Europe's largest
current construction projects, will be capable of handling 30
million customers a year."
"We applaud British Airways for taking this initiative and
making DFW the first US airport to receive news of this new
non-stop international service," said Fegan. "Our passengers will
now have great service to both Gatwick and Heathrow and the
opportunities to easily travel from DFW to Europe, Africa, the
Middle East and India are greatly enhanced. We also believe this
will generate even more DFW - London service in the future." The
Airport estimates that one additional flight to London would
generate as much as $170 million for the North Texas economy each
year.
The new service is also expected to boost European travel by
passengers from Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding communities as
well as DFW's 35 million connecting passengers. London Heathrow had
been the largest European airport not served through DFW for many
years.
"We have wanted a flight to Heathrow for many years to link our
two great airports and with the opening of Heathrow’s new
Terminal 5, this new flight will be the premier US to EU
experience," said Joe Lopano, DFW's executive vice president of
marketing and terminal management.
According to statistics released by DFW, 185,000 passengers
travel annually between London and DFW, the largest locally-based
international travel market. However, 15 percent of DFW's London
bound passengers currently use another airport to fly to London
Heathrow.
London is currently served by 3 nonstop daily flights from DFW.
British Airways offers one daily nonstop to London Gatwick, while
American Airlines offers two.