Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport has been recognized as the 2019 Airport of the Year by Air Transport World (ATW), the leading media brand serving the global airline and commercial air transport industry for more than 50 years.
The coveted honor recognizes DFW’s innovation in providing a world-class customer experience, global leadership in sustainability, cost effective and efficient operations, excellent partnership with airlines, and collaboration with local communities to further develop the economic benefits of aviation in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, the airport said in a news release.
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized as Air Transport World’s Global Airport of the Year, and it’s a credit to the nearly 2,000 employees of DFW Airport, who continually go above and beyond to take care of customers, address the needs of stakeholders, and engage with our surrounding communities,” Sean Donohue, CEO of DFW Airport., said in the release.
“DFW is experiencing the fastest growth in more than a decade, and we see it as an opportunity to welcome the world to the Dallas Fort Worth region and advance the innovation and collaboration that deliver for our customers and make our communities stronger,” Donohue said.
DFW joins an exclusive list of global gateway airports that have recently been honored as ATW’s Airport of the Year, including Hong Kong International Airport, London Heathrow and Singapore-Changi Airport, the North Texas Commission said.
“It’s exciting to see DFW be recognized for the world-class customer experience, the excellent partnership with airlines and, of course, the collaboration with community organizations like the North Texas Commission,” Scott Orr, NTC Chairman and Vice President, Public Affairs at Fidelity Investments, said in a statement.
DFW is owned by Dallas and Fort Worth, and the mayors of both cities welcomed the announcement of the selection.
“The recognition of DFW as Airport of the Year demonstrates how the Airport and our region can achieve success on a global scale,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “The Airport Board of Directors and the DFW team laid out a strategic plan several years ago, planning for the future, and they have delivered their vision for transforming travel.”
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings called the announcement “another major acknowledgment that DFW Airport is a growth engine for Dallas and all of our regional partners.”
“I may be biased, but I think this is the best international airport in the United States and we have seen in recent years that the world is taking notice,” Rawlings said in a statement. “Businesses are moving to Dallas-Fort Worth at an astonishing rate, and most of them acknowledge the number of destinations and non-stop flights from DFW as a key part of their decision.”
The ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards have recognized the best businesses and people in aviation for 45 years.
“Dallas Fort Worth International Airport truly stood out for its innovation, operational excellence and focus on serving its customers – passengers and airlines,” ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker said. “DFW has invested in infrastructure and technology to improve its facilities, efficiencies and sustainability, all the time continuing its operations as a global mega-hub. DFW richly deserves to be recognized as the 2019 ATW Airport of the Year.”
Officials from the airport’s top carrier also voiced their support for the award.
“We are proud of the work that DFW continues to do to elevate one of the most frequently visited super hubs in the world,” said Cedric Rockamore, Vice President of Hub Operations at DFW for American. “DFW Airport has been a longtime partner to American, and we are committed to working collaboratively to provide our customers with a premier travel experience for years to come.”
In 2019, DFW anticipates serving an average of nearly 200,000 customers per day with new domestic and international destinations and nearly 1,900 flights per day.
In 2018, the airport announced 28 new destinations, offering more domestic destinations than any other U.S. airport; nine new international flights, doubling its European destinations and frequencies since 2015; completion of a $2 billion renovation and renewal of three legacy terminals; and receiving carbon neutral accreditation for the third straight year, the largest carbon neutral airport in the world.
Dallas Fort Worth International handles more than 69 million customers annually, making it one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world. The airport offers 182 domestic and 62 international nonstop destinations worldwide. The airport produces more than $37 billion in economic impact to the North Texas region each year.
www.dfwairport.com
– FWBP Staff