American Airlines Applies for Authority to Fly Nonstop From Dallas/Fort Worth to Rio de Janeiro
Route Will Complement American's New Service to Brasilia from Miami and to Rio de Janeiro from New York Kennedy
Press Release Source: American Airlines On Thursday July 8, 2010, 3:50 pm

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines today applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to fly nonstop from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) three times a week beginning Nov. 18, 2010.

"We are pleased to offer flights from American's largest hub at DFW to the second largest city in South America," said Peter Dolara, American's Senior Vice President – Mexico Caribbean and Latin America. "Most existing service to Rio flies from gateways along the East Coast, and flights from DFW to Rio will provide substantial benefits to passengers and shippers, particularly because of the ability to make easy and convenient connections to and from dozens of cities via Dallas/Fort Worth.

"Brazil is an important Latin American marketplace and will host the 2014 World Cup. Rio is a cultural and commercial financial center that will be home to the 2016 Olympic Games.

American offers more flights to more destinations in Latin America than any other carrier and is committed to investing its resources to serve this important part of the world."

"Strengthening the scope of service offered at DFW is important to Dallas, Fort Worth, and the Metroplex," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. "We encourage the U.S. Department of Transportation to grant American the right to offer these new flights, which will be very beneficial to travelers and boost economic ties between Dallas and South America."

"We support American in its bid to win approval for service between DFW and Rio," said Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth. "These new flights would be of great benefit to the travelers and shippers of North Texas and to those who make easy connections through DFW to Latin America."

American will fly the route using Boeing 767-300 aircraft configured with 28 Business Class and 191 Economy Class seats.

Here is the proposed schedule:
From DFW to GIG (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Depart: 7:45 p.m.
Arrive: 10:25 a.m. (next day)
From GIG TO DFW (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
Depart: 11:15 p.m.
Arrive: 6:25 a.m. (next day)

American recently was granted DOT approval to offer daily nonstop service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Rio de Janeiro and 4-days-a-week nonstop service between Miami and Brasilia starting Nov. 18. American also offers daily nonstop service from DFW and JFK to Sao Paulo and multiple flights from its hub at Miami International Airport to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Recife, and Salvador. In 2009, American entered into a codeshare alliance with GOL, which will offer service beyond Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to other cities in Brazil.