New agreement outlines cooperation and information sharing between two of the world's top airports
DFW AIRPORT – Leaders from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Incheon International Airport from Seoul, South Korea, both rated among the world’s top airports for customer service, signed a partnership agreement designed to foster close cooperation between the two airports.
The DFW-ICN Airport Partnership pact outlines the principles on which the two airports will work collaboratively on business and operational projects. DFW and Incheon airports will jointly promote existing nonstop passenger service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Seoul, South Korea, and will share information and best practices in areas ranging from sustainability to customer service, engineering, airport amenities and airfield operations.
“As peers and partners, DFW and Incheon share a common objective to improve our own position among the world’s most highly regarded airports,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO for DFW International Airport. “This agreement marks a key milestone for DFW International Airport. We have a great deal of respect for Incheon International Airport, which is unquestionably a global leader setting a new standard for airports around the world. Incheon also provides a new model of airline and government partnership that we can learn from.”
“I am confident the two airports would become great partners by exchanging strengths and best practices and be ranked as the world’s leading airports together,” said C W Lee, President and CEO of Incheon International Airport. “DFW has a full suite of experience and unmatched expertise. I am looking forward to seeing this cooperation flourish in the years to come.”
Incheon Airport has been rated the world’s best among airports of its size in customer service by Airports Council International (ACI) for seven consecutive years and serves as a role model for other airports. Incheon Airport is the second largest airport by tonnage for international cargo and serves 34 million passengers annually. DFW has also been highly ranked by ACI, placing in the top five for customer service among large airports worldwide for five consecutive years. DFW is the world’s fourth busiest airport for flight operations, and serves 57 million passengers annually.
“Today we join in partnership two airports with a shared passion for excellence,” said Robert Hseuh, Chairman of the DFW Airport Board of Directors. “The airport partnership agreement forges a relationship that demonstrates a high level of commitment to exceptional customer service, operations, safety, technology and air service development. The sharing of best practices in airport management adds great value to our mission of connecting the world.”
Currently, Korean Air offers passenger service nonstop five times per week between DFW and Incheon, with plans to add two more flights per week in the spring of 2013. The airline also operates eight cargo flights per week between the two airports. Beginning tonight, Asiana Airlines began five times weekly cargo flights between DFW and Incheon as well.
The agreement extends the business relationship between Seoul, South Korea and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. With a total trade of $7.7 billion in 2011, Korea is the second largest trading partner for the DFW area. Major Korean corporations with North American headquarters in North Texas include Samsung Mobile (Richardson), LG (Fort Worth, Hyundai Merchant Marine (Irving) among other large companies. Dallas is also home to the regional office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). In addition, a large concentration of Korean businesses resides within the Asian Trade District of Dallas and Carrolton, which helps to serve the 70,000 to 80,000 residents in the North Texas region who have Korean cultural roots.
