DFW Airport launched a world of cargo opportunities with the opening of its International Air Cargo Centre in January 1999!

This Valentine's season, Dole Fresh Flowers takes advantage of the many opportunities offered by DFW Airport by operating from the new facility. Because of DFW Airport, Dole is able to provide some of the freshest flowers to its customers!

Flowers - A Prime Market
Fresh flowers shipped northbound from South America is one of the top perishable commodities in the U.S., and DFW Airport is committed to gaining business in this area of cargo. Currently, DFW is aggressively targeting top flower carriers to increase business at the Airport in this market, including Fine Air, Tampa, ATC, LanChile and Grupo TACA.

DFW Airport boasts extraordinary and unique facilities to attract companies that distribute perishable goods. As a result, DFW can market direct air routes from South America instead of through a third country. These direct routes save time and money for cargo distributors, and enable the freshest goods to reach the U.S. and the customer. A company's success at DFW is virtually guaranteed!

DFW Airport - The Cargo Advantage
Phase I of DFW's new International Air Cargo Centre is a 205,000 square-foot warehouse located at the northwest end of the Airport. It contains a remarkable 30,000 square feet of refrigerated storage space (perfect for storing freshly-cut flowers) and 48 truck dock doors. The facility also accommodates international cargo carriers' wide-body operations, including 747's and DC-10's, with its ability to park up to four wide-body aircraft at the center simultaneously.

DFW Airport also offers numerous other advantages for cargo distribution. In March 1999, a new state-of-the-art 2,400 square foot International Perishable Treatment Facility was added to support international cargo growth. In addition, DFW's strategic central location, unmatched transportation facilities and fast efficient service places it as an excellent Airport for routing cargo. In fact, 98 percent of the U.S. population can be reached via truck from DFW within 48 hours or less.

This incredible short distance to market can extend the shelf life of perishable products such as flowers from 24 to 72 hours, resulting in increased sales opportunities, improved profit margins, and enhanced customer service! Cargo businesses that distribute perishable items realize the importance and uniqueness of DFW's advantages to their operations.

Challenge Air Cargo - A Success Story
Challenge Air Cargo leased DFW's entire International Air Cargo Centre when it opened over a year ago. The cargo carrier handled shipments of freshly cut flowers and other perishables from Latin America inbound to the United States.

Challenge's tonnage grew from 105 tons to 534 tons (more than 400 percent) while at DFW! The airline provided DFW with its first all-cargo carrier to Latin America and enhanced the Airport's position as a growing gateway to Latin America.

Dole Flowers - Current and Future Success
Challenge's success paved the way for future cargo success for other companies, including Dole Flowers. Dole also realized the importance of DFW's advantages in its business, and occupied the facility after Challenge's departure for its flower distribution operations during the Valentine's holiday.

John Rau, warehouse manager for Dole Flowers, reaffirms the vital role that DFW Airport plays in the company's operations. "DFW Airport plays an integral part in the success of our distribution center. Because of its strategic geographical location and the number of outbound flights each day, we are able to provide same day service to most of the floral wholesalers in the United States." Same day service equates to happy customers!

This Valentine's season, Dole flies its flowers to Miami from South America. The flowers are then trucked to DFW and stored at 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the Airport's refrigerated storage space in the International Air Cargo Centre to keep them as fresh as possible. The flowers are shipped out to its customers via truck and air to cities in Texas, west of the Mississippi, and into some parts of Canada.

Dole is extremely interested in direct flights from South American countries such as Columbia and Ecuador, the company's primary sources of flowers. The company is concerned about the turnaround time of its flowers so that its customers receive the freshest ones possible, and continually strives to reduce this time. Direct flights from South America to DFW Airport would amount to approximately 2- to 3-days savings in travel time, which results in a better product for Dole's customer.

During this busy Valentine's season, Dole Flowers and DFW Airport are proud to bring some of the freshest flowers to the United States. DFW Airport looks forward to providing more direct routes from markets that supply perishable goods such as South America to help companies like Dole Fresh Flowers bring the freshest products to its customers - signed, sealed and delivered.