American Launches First Flight from DFW to New Zealand
American Airlines is launching a series of new international flights out of its home base at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, including the first-ever route from DFW to New Zealand.
The seasonal flight to Auckland began October 29 and runs through March of 2023, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper.
“The reintroduction of this service to Auckland is the next big step in bringing the Asia Pacific travelers back to North America with a seamless travel experience,” Thomas Rajan, American Airlines’ vice president of global sales,” told the Star-Telegram “These travelers have always been an important and loyal group, representing a significant percentage of the visitors who come to North America.”
DFW Airport Vice-President Jim Moses welcome the new route from its biggest tenant.
“The sheer number of customers coming in connecting through here provides that economic boost to this region that we’re really excited to be part of,” Moses said. “As we head into the holiday season, and we introduce new service out of DFW to Auckland, from a ground services perspective, we have been hired up. We’ve also not stopped hiring pilots and flight attendants throughout the entire year and throughout all of 2021. We’re staffed and ready but every time you do add service, more people are required to look after that trip.”
Budget carrier Sun Country Airlines also announced some route news this week.
The Minneapolis-based airline will relaunch its winter flights to Grandy Cayman from MSP to Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) on Grand Cayman. Service begins December 17, 2022, with flights operating once a week, departing on Saturdays. Travelers can book now though mid-April 2023.
“With consumers’ current urge to travel, this is the perfect time to bring Minnesotans back to the Cayman Islands on Sun Country Airlines as we know how much they like to escape the cold to a beautiful tropical beach,” said Cayman Islands Department of Tourism US General Manager, Tom Ludington. “We look forward to the relaunch of winter flights to the Cayman Islands and are eager to accommodate returning guests and first-time visitors to our beautiful corner of the Caribbean.”