DFW Airport: The World Connected. (Focus On).

The opportunities for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) have never been greater.

With new routes to Latin America, connecting flights to Asia and Europe, and nonstop service to 160 destinations worldwide, DFW Airport is a fast-growing global gateway that connects Dallas-Fort Worth to the world. In 2000, DFW served more than 60 million passengers to rank fifth in the world and total cargo reached nearly 1 million U.S. tons.

With more than 18,000 acres of land and seven runways, DFW offers an uncongested setting for passengers and cargo. DFW is the only airport in the world able to land four aircraft simultaneously in VFR conditions and has more runway capacity than any other U.S. airport, with the ability to handle nearly 270 flights per hour in optimum weather conditions.

DFW Airport is placing increasing emphasis on international destinations, actively looking for markets throughout the world that would benefit from DFW service. International passenger traffic has increased more than 20 percent in the past year, and DFW added service to three international destinations last year alone, including nonstop service to Paris via Air France. Currently, DFW serves 12 destinations in Mexico, as well as Sao Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Caracas, Venezuela; San Jose, Costa Rica; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Lima, Peru, and Belize City, Belize.

DFW Airport's strategic central location, about midway between the two U.S. coasts and in the center of the fastest-growing major U.S. metropolitan area, makes it an ideal destination for international travelers and shippers. DFW provides access to every major city in the mainland United States in four hours or less flying time.

"Frequent flights to Mexico and domestic destinations, as well as regular air service to Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America, make DFW a popular stopover for international travelers," says Joe Lopano, executive vice president of marketing. "By flying through DFW rather than other U.S. ports of entry, travelers save significant time."

A new 23-gate, world-class, consolidated international terminal (DFW's fifth) and an elevated bi-directional automated people mover system with average terminal connect times of five minutes, both currently under construction, will continue to position DEW as a premier global air transportation hub well into the future.

DFW's 400,000-square-foot International Air Cargo Center offers unparalleled access throughout North America, offering more than 150 truck dock doors and ramp parking for eight B747 freighters. In addition, 30,000 square feet of refrigerated storage space is available for the handling of flowers and other perishables. "DFW is well-positioned to facilitate the shipment of perishables from Latin America to the Midwest, Central states and the West Coast," says Lopano.

For both passenger and cargo service, DFW is a southern connecting point for service between Latin America, Asia and Europe. "Arriving flights from overseas are able to make efficient connections to deep South America," says Lopano. "Global trade is expanding quickly, and we are playing an important role in that growth."