Contour Airlines started flights to and from DFW Airport, out of Terminal D, on Dec. 1. The airline connects DFW to several smaller regional airports through the Essential Air Service program, according to a news release.
“This new flight to DFW is a game-changer for our region,” said JoJo Stuart, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport manager. “It strengthens our connectivity, supports economic growth, and provides our travelers with more options and convenience. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with the community, and we value the partnership with Contour for making it happen.”
Cape Girardeau is the home of Southeast Missouri State University.
Zooming in
Frontier Airlines launched two international flights from DFW Airport in December.
Weekly flights to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala, started Dec. 20. Two-times-a-week service from DFW Airport to El Salvador International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador, took off Dec. 21.
The Denver-based airline announced 22 new routes in a Sept. 4 news release, according to previous reporting.
Qantas will add daily service from DFW Airport to Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia. The Australian airline has its 10th Airbus A380 plane back in service, which led to the increased capacity, according to a social media post by DFW Airport.
Qantas and American Airlines announced daily service started Dec. 3 and will run through Jan. 31, according to a news release.
A closer look
The Transportation Security Administration announced Dec. 1 that all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of identification and still wish to fly will have the option to pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID.
Travelers will be able to pay for a 10-day travel period starting Feb. 1. TSA urges travelers who do not have a Real ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID, according to a news release.
Currently, more than 94% of passengers already use their Real ID or other acceptable forms of identification, according to a news release.
“The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like Real IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are,” said Adam Stahl, senior official performing the duties of deputy administrator for TSA. “This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a Real ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”
What else?
DFW Airport has six new Striker Volterra electric aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, becoming the first airport in the country to have such vehicles, according to a news release.
The new ARFF vehicles are part of DFW’s plan for high-performance, sustainable operations. The vehicles operate in electric mode with zero emissions during station entry, standby and low-speed operations. It can also accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in less than 21 seconds, according to Oshkosh Airport Products, the company that builds the vehicles. DFW Airport has installed 480-volt charging stations in each of the six stations spread out among the airport’s 18,000 acres, according to the fire department website.
“Enhancing performance by reducing response times is the key driver of transitioning to these new vehicles,” said Daniel White, chief of DFW Fire-Rescue, in a news release. “The Striker Volterra vehicles are faster and more agile than our current fleet. Because they are also safe for our firefighters and conscious for the environment, this investment represents a rare win-win-win, delivering operational benefits while ensuring the safety of our responders and the community we serve.”
Additionally, the Striker Voleerra is part of DFW’s transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam to move away from PFAS-based agents, according to a news release.
