Cathay Pacific Cargo, one of the premier air cargo brands in the world, began Boeing 747-400 air freighter service to DFW International Airport on November 19. Based in Hong Kong, the carrier’s air freighters will fly to DFW three times per week, marking a continued upward trend in the freight business between North Texas and Asia. The new Cathay Pacific Cargo flights are estimated to generate more than $7 million annually in economic impact for North Texas.

Cathay Pacific’s entry into the DFW market will boost the Airport’s weekly freighter flights to and from Asia to 34. North Texas area shippers will have access to more than 50 worldwide destinations on five continents via the carrier’s network.

The new Cathay Pacific service is another clear indication that DFW’s international cargo traffic is growing at a dramatic pace. The Airport’s international cargo business has reached more than 200,000 U.S. tons in the first three quarters of this calendar year. Asian freighters represent an astonishing 64 percent of that number. Other carriers flying freighters to Asian destinations from DFW include Singapore Airlines, Korean Air Lines, China Airlines, China Cargo Airlines and EVA Air.

Cathay Pacific has been in business for more than 60 years. The airline is headquartered in Hong Kong, which is one of DFW’s largest air cargo markets. The Hong Kong-DFW market has shown historic growth of 10.5 percent annually since 1996, and grew almost 46 percent in 2004 alone. Hong Kong is in the heart of the Pearl River Delta in southern China, which is a popular location for electronics and technology manufacturers. The majority of DFW’s cargo exports will be capital goods. Imports into DFW will consist of industrial goods, high-technology equipment and consumer electronics.

DFW continually works to attract new cargo carriers, as well as new and additional service from existing carriers. Cathay Pacific Cargo received an enthusiastic welcome when it began service at DFW, joining the Airport’s impressive group of cargo carriers.