Fitness initiative coincides with American Heart Association National Walking Day, and healthy concessions options

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport today unveiled a new walking path inside Terminal D, designed to give traveling passengers an option to exercise while on the go.  The DFW LiveWell Walking Path, measuring seven-tenths of a mile, is aligned with the tiled DFW Art Program floor medallions adorning Terminal D's boarding gatehouses.

"We are extremely pleased to offer the DFW LiveWell Walking Path as a benefit for passengers and as a sign of our commitment to support anyone who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport.  "When you look at the tremendous progress we've made in recent years to provide healthier concessions options, the Walking Path is literally a giant step toward our goal of making DFW the nation's healthiest Airport."

The Walking Path is marked with signage between each of the twelve floor art medallions Terminal D, with distances marked between each medallion and for the entire course.  The floor medallions are located throughout the length of the terminal, from Gate D6 to Gate D40.  The Walking Path also features two optional step courses in the form of 55-foot high staircases at Terminal D's two Skylink people mover stations.  DFW has also installed a Yoga Center at Gate D40 as another optional activity.

The Walking Path is the latest DFW initiative aimed at supporting healthy life choices.  The Airport's Concessions Program in recent years has placed a growing emphasis on offering healthier items on restaurant menus at the Airport, with concessionaires now required to offer at least one healthy entrée or menu item at each of DFW's 127 food and beverage outlets.

"Our customers have been requesting more healthy options at restaurants for years, and we've been moving in that direction in response to those desires," said Ken Buchanan, DFW's executive vice president for revenue management.

The Walking Path is sponsored by LiveWell, DFW Airport's employee wellness program which has had a tremendous positive impact on improving Airport employee health since its launch in 2006. The LiveWell Program was cited as a primary reason that the Dallas Business Journal named DFW one of the Dallas/Fort Worth area's healthiest employers in 2012.

"The DFW LiveWell initiative has shown us many ways to improve employee health, and we are very pleased to extend this benefit to some of the 57 million passengers that visit DFW every year," said Linda Valdez-Thompson, executive vice president for administration and diversity at DFW.  "We are truly excited to be able to offer the DFW LiveWell Walking Path to our customers as a way to demonstrate that DFW supports their active pursuit of healthy lifestyle choices even while traveling."

The Walking Path has been endorsed by the American Heart Association, which is participating in the launch event.  According to the AHA, walking is the simplest and single most effective form of exercise to achieve heart health. Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for as little as 30 minutes each day can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Today's unveiling occurred in coordination with the American Heart Association's National Walking Day, which annually takes place on the first Wednesday in April.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's fourth busiest, offering nearly 1,750 flights per day and serving 57 million passengers a year. DFW provides nonstop service to 145 domestic and 47 international destinations worldwide. For five consecutive years, DFW has ranked in the top five for customer service among large airports worldwide in surveys conducted by Airports Council International. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, visit www.dfwairport.com.

(re)defining DFW International Airport

DFW International Airport's $1.9 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) is (re)defining first class for this global gateway. For the latest details regarding TRIP, log on to www.dfwairport.com/redefine.

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SOURCE DFW International Airport