The DFW Difference: How the Texas hub became a gateway to Latin America

Strength south of the border

Even factors beyond DFW’s control seem to be working in the airports favor, namely evidence of a recovery in some of the hardest-hit economies south of the border. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is still putting up some pretty grim numbers, with a year-over-year decline of 1.9 percent for the region in April, but Airports Council International (ACI) posted more encouraging regional data, with a 4.7 percent y-o-y increase in March air freight volumes that, while temporal, is a welcome sign of improvement.

AA Cargo’s Elieson noted that individual markets such as Argentina and Chile were performing well. “While as a region it has been soft,” he explained, “we still performed well with specific products and specific markets.” He’s also noticed a strengthening in Brazil over the last six months. “It’s a huge market for us, and our presence there is second to none, which is very important to our business.”

Neither DFW nor AA Cargo are complacent about this potential windfall, with both parties out there beating the bushes for more action. “We brought in the freight forwarders that manage cold chain products like salmon to Dallas to see the facility,” said Lorena Sandoval, director of FCLA Cargo Sales at AA Cargo. “They were really impressed by how it was managed, as well as by the connectivity through Asia. That’s helping us expand the number of commodities out of those markets.”

DFW’s vice president of airline relations, Milton De La Paz, has racked up many miles across Latin America, preaching the DFW gospel, and his efforts are paying off.

AA Cargo’s Sandoval explained that the carrier has more direct flights from Central and South America to DFW than any other carrier. About five years ago, AA started adding direct connections from DFW to major freight hubs in Asia, and, in conjunction with AA’s East Coast hub of MIA, the airline has created complete connectivity between South America and the global market.

For instance, Ecuador and Colombia are major flower exporters that historically relied on MIA, however, DFW is now a flower hub for AA Cargo as well. Fruit is now transiting through DFW from Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile. Argentina and Chile now export salmon and fruits through the Texas airport, and Peruvian shippers move asparagus, mangoes and berries. AA also reports growing volumes of fish moving through DFW from Brazil.