Airport News

American Airlines adds new nonstop flights from DFW to New Zealand

Auckland looks pretty from the air.

Photo courtesy of DFW Aiport

American Airlines has added nonstop flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to the largest city in New Zealand: Auckland.

According to a release, the service to this new destination in the South Pacific will be available for sale on November 9, 2019, for flights beginning in late October 2020 through the end of March 2021, on American's state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9.

American previously offered flights from DFW to Auckland, as do a host of airlines including Air New Zealand, United, Air Alaska, Delta, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air Canada, China Airlines, Air China, and Qatar, but most with a one-city layover.

This will be a direct flight.

During the first month of service, from October 25-November 29, there will be three flights per week, before switching to daily service on December 1.

From October 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021, the flights will depart and arrive as follows:

Dallas-Fort Worth to Auckland

Depart DFW: 10:30 pm
Arrive AKL: 7:40 am/8:40 am (+2 days)

Auckland to Dallas-Fort Worth

Depart AKL: 11:15 am/12:15 pm
Arrive DFW: 7:10 am

The flight times are subject to change and account for Daylight Savings.

Sean Donohue, DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue says in a statement that the airline's partnership with American Airlines is bringing "record growth for DFW Airport, with more passengers during the past year than the Airport has seen in any of the past 15 years."

Auckland boasts sporting events, festivals, high-end shopping, world-class food and dining, and concerts. The topography features 48 volcanic cones, art galleries, museums, and Māori cultural attractions including contemporary art, history, and guided tours.

Auckland is the 14th new international destination added at DFW since January 2019. The airport is working with American Airlines on plans for Terminal F, where a long-term projection of up to 24 gates will help address continued growth at the airport, as well as accommodate a changing aviation industry that incorporates innovative technology.

transportation

DART News

DART launches scooter parking pilot program at 4 Dallas rail stations

DART

Scooter parking for DART

In a new pilot program, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is making room for scooters: According to a release, four DART stations will now have dedicated parking zones for scooters.

DART will unveil six designated scooter parking zones at four of its highest-traffic stations. Each of the zones will be specifically marked and provide a controlled space for users to park scooters, leaving them clear of walkways, platforms and rail or bus paths, where they can disrupt train and bus service.

The designated scooter parking zones can be found at:

CBD West Transit Center – just east and behind the bus shelter
Victory Station – next to tap and go pay stations along the walkway to the American Airlines Center and next to the southernmost crossing at the rail platform
EBJ/Union Station – on the sidewalk near the north and south entrances to Union Station
SMU/Mockingbird Station – next to bike racks along the walkway from station platform

The pilot program is expected to run a few months beginning in December.

DART will collaborate with the City of Dallas to process the data to scooter rental companies to ensure that the scooters are equipped with geofencing technology allowing the marking of their locations.

With motorized scooters becoming a common mode of "micro transit" for commuters, DART hopes to clear clutter and walking hazards for rail and bus customers, while also provide those who use scooters a quick and reliable way to access or park them.

“Whether people like them or not, scooters have become a popular form of transportation across our service area,” says DART VP of capital design and construction Trey Walker. “We’re acknowledging this fact while attempting to get ahead of scooter clutter at our stations with this pilot program. We want to ensure that our transit stations remain safe, and we continue to maximize efficiency with our train and bus operations.”

Scooter companies, Lime and Bird, are also partnering with DART to incorporate scooter locations near transit stations on the GoPass app, making it easier for riders to find scooters to utilize and complete their journey. DART staff will also monitor the usage of the scooter parking zones and gather public feedback regarding their effectiveness during the pilot.