Qantas Arrives in Dallas/Fort Worth

DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hollywood superstar John Travolta greeted passengers arriving on the first Qantas flight to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) from Sydney today.

Mr. Travolta, Qantas' Ambassador-at-Large and a passionate pilot, met passengers disembarking from the inaugural service before taking part in the formal welcome celebrations hosted by DFW International Network.  

The Qantas Boeing 747 aircraft operating QF7 touched down in DFW this afternoon, receiving a traditional 'shower of affection' from two airport fire trucks before reaching the terminal building.  Mr. Travolta was joined by Wally R. Mariani AM, Qantas' Vice President for the Americas; Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport; Dwaine Caraway, Mayor of Dallas; Mike Moncrief, Mayor of Fort Worth; Derek DeCross, Vice President of Sales with American Airlines; and Mabrie Jackson, President and CEO of the North Texas Commission, at the arrival event.  The Hon Kim Beazley AC, Australian Ambassador to the United States, also attended.

Qantas' Sydney-DFW services operate four times per week, with the DFW-Sydney return service stopping in Brisbane, giving Australians unprecedented access to the United States – and opening up Australia's world-class tourism attractions to a new audience in the United States.  

Through its codeshare partnership with American Airlines, Qantas will connect DFW to 54 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico – including Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Washington, Toronto, Vancouver, Cancun and Mexico City.

Mr. Travolta said it was a pleasure to be welcoming the first Qantas service into DFW.

"I know both Qantas and Dallas/Fort Worth very well, so I'm delighted to be here for this special occasion," Mr. Travolta said.

"Qantas is truly one of the world's great airlines, with a rich history of flying long-haul routes between Australia and the United States, and its first flight to Dallas/Fort Worth marks a new chapter in that history.

"Having been to Australia many times, I know there is great affection and deep ties between the two countries.  I'm sure that the new service will help strengthen those bonds, and I look forward to seeing Qantas' iconic red tail in Dallas/Fort Worth on a regular basis."  

Mr. Mariani said the route was attracting strong interest in Australia and the US.  

"This is Qantas' first new destination since 2008.  It gives Australians unmatched access to North America and beyond and makes Australia even more accessible for Americans," Mr.  Mariani said.

"Not only is Dallas/Fort Worth an outstanding destination in its own right, it is also the largest hub of our partner American Airlines, which means we can now offer passengers many additional options to connect conveniently to and from other cities throughout the rest of the United States, Canada and Mexico."

SOURCE Qantas Airways