Qantas Airways’ move to launch direct service between Sydney, Australia, and DFW Airport, which was 10 years in the making, is all about boosting business in both the U.S. and Australia. The four-times-weekly service, which kicks off today, could have a $130 million-plus direct impact on the North Texas economy annually, airport CEO Jeff Fegan said this morning. The figure that could rise to $200 million when and if daily flights are inaugurated, he added.
Fegan was attending a World Affairs Council breakfast addressed by Kim Beazley, the Australian ambassador to the United States. In an interview afterward, Beazley said the Aussie airline’s decision on daily service would be triggered by “load factors,” as well as the availability of Boeing’s often-delayed 787 Dreamliner plane (Quantas is currently using Boeing’s extended-range 747 for the flights).
Beazley also said that while Houston now enjoys the lion’s share of Texas business with Australian companies, the new service here will make North Texas more attractive to small and medium-sized Aussie firms, especially in the high-tech sector, and to Australian investors, who have a ton of cash to deploy. “This will sort of rub a lot of noses in opportunity,” he said.
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Why does Houston “enjoy the lion’s share of Texas business with Australian companies”? Just wait until the deck park and standing wave are finished. The Aussies will be lining up to do business in Dallas then.
@Buckeye: Australia is a major energy producer and so Houston, as an international energy capital, is home to a lot of Aussie energy companies, esp. those that do oil and gas business in the Gulf.
Not to mention the consulate is in Houston. Houston is also building up their own Aussie Rules football team to take on our awesome Dallas Magpies!
(shameless plug)
Soooo, lets see here. 4 times a week times 52 weeks per year…each flight has a $625,000 “impact” on the North Texas economy. What IS that noise I keep hearing…oh yeah, it’s my bull**** alarm going off.
Please note that Qantas is spelled without a “u”, and as Aussies, we are delighted that we can fly directly through to Texas without our annual drive from LAX for the storm season.
Qantas is an acronym for Queensland And Northern Territories Air Service, right?
G’Day!
Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd, Granny. I really wanted to remind our Texan friends that the occasional Australian was reading over their shoulder, so to speak. G’day back at you…