American Airlines launched its newest route to Asia last week when it debuted a new daily, nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and South Korea's Incheon International Airport near Seoul, according to USA Today.
The first flight operated on Thursday, landing in Seoul on Friday, local time. The new route provides a presence in Asia for American Airlines, an area of the world where the company has fallen behind its domestic competitors.
"American officials have acknowledged that they trail larger competitors United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which have robust networks to Japan and mainland Asia," according to the Dallas Morning News, who communicated with the company. "But American is using selected route additions and its partnership with fellow oneworld member Japan Airlines (JAL) to expand its Asian access to customers."
The new route is part of the joint-venture agreement with JAL. American flies its own planes to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo.
"South Korea's continued growth as a key business market has created increased demand for direct travel to and from the region," Chuck Schubert, American Airline's vice president for network planning, said in a press release. "This new route enhances our expanding global network and further establishes American's position as the preferred carrier for one-stop connections between Asia and major business and leisure destinations in North, Central and South America."
American Airlines will operate the route on Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The company states that its in-flight experience will come with "special attention to the culture of the airline's Korean customers." This will include in-flight menus that have food options such as the South Korean dish bibimbap, which is a signature Korean dish.
The new route will dramatically increase the number of nonstop options between Texas and South Korea. Korean Air has been flying the route for approximately 20 years and has now increased from one flight a day to five.
"The new service to Seoul continues DFW's unprecedented momentum in adding new international service," the airport said in a press release. "Since December of 2010, DFW Airport has seen the addition of 13 new international destinations and seven new air carriers, the most prolific period of air service expansion in the airport's history."
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