American Airlines will launch nonstop service from Dallas to Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning June 2014, connecting Texas directly to the two Chinese cities for the first time.

Pending regulatory approval, starting next summer American will offer daily nonstop flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DWF) and Shanghai's Pudong International Airport (PVG) on its Boeing 777-200 carrier, and daily nonstop flights to Hong Kong International (HKG) on the new Boeing 777-300ER.

"We've been working hard on building our international relations, and our work continues to pay off for North Texas," said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. "Today's news is great for the Metroplex and a landmark development for the state of Texas, whose residents will have direct access to Hong Kong and Shanghai for the first time in our history. The Asian market is ripe for Texas business and tourists alike."

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said that he and the DFW airport have been advocating for more direct access to the Asian market, noting that the new routes will bring in more than $360 million of economic activity and will "launch Dallas and Fort Worth into a new dimension of international business and cultural engagement."

Robert Hsueh, head of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors, said the announcement of the new routes is the most important development news in the history of the airport.

"These direct routes connect DFW to major destinations in Asia and will play a key role in further strengthening ties between our region and Asia," said Hsueh.

Tami Overby, vice-president of the Asia Division of the US Chamber of Commerce, said in 2010 that "China is a rapidly growing economy that Dallas-area businesses must access.

"The American business community stands to significantly benefit by tapping a vast market for export and investment opportunities, which creates jobs at home. That is why the US Chamber actively supports greater access to the Chinese market. Trade with China can provide Texas businesses access to tens of millions of new customers," she said.

In July, Air China began its nonstop service between Houston, Texas and Beijing, the only airline to do so between the southern Texas city and the China's capital. The route was announced at the beginning of the year in January and when it began flying customers in the summer, the airline offered four weekly nonstop trips.

Texas has a historical relationship with China, which started when Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visited Houston during a trip to the US in 1979.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 10/18/2013 page10)