Dallas/Fort Worth International airport (DFW) believes that tapping more of the emerging growth markets will be key to outperforming its typical growth rate.
DFW executive vice-president Ken Buchanan says passenger numbers are likely to grow by around 3% this year, but sees big potential areas for expansion. "We don't have direct services to Africa, limited services into the fast-growing South America. We don't have direct services to China," he says. "If we are able to attract new services from these growth areas, we can accelerate [faster than 3%]."
The airport this year secured its first flights into the Middle East, after Emirates launched daily flights to the Texas airport in February. Buchanan is hopeful that strong demand on this route will encourage other carriers in the Gulf region to consider starting their own flights to the airport.