Possible direct flights to Asia from Austin explored
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/ ... -explored/AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — As South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. builds its next-generation semiconductor plant in Central Texas, and considers an even larger investment, there is no doubt Austin will see more travelers from Asia in the years to come.
Airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic already fly direct from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to London, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Germany’s Lufthansa fly direct to mainland Europe.
A direct flight to an Asian business center is the logical next step for one of the nation’s fastest-growing aviation hubs. An international route across the Pacific to Seoul, Tokyo or Hong Kong would further uplift the airport’s status and galvanize the city’s position as an international destination.
Read the Austin Business Journal article about when direct flights from Asia could come to Austin.
Summary of a few excerpts from the ABJ article By Mike Christen – Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news ... strom.htmlArticle said "Asia makes sense," said Matt Geske, vice president of regional and local policy for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. "We have identified target areas for service and now we are looking to Asia."
Went on to say that in 2018, the chamber launched an effort to attract nonstop service from Asia, primarily from Seoul and Tokyo. It partners with the city of Austin through a task force that analyzes the demand for service reinforced by business travel to and from Central Texas.
Also stated that in 2019, Dell Technologies Inc. executive Doug Driskill, then chairman of the task force, told ABJ that securing the first nonstop connection to Asia was "top of mind" and possible within two years. Then came the pandemic, which raised questions about the future of business travel that still linger.
Geske stated that the Austin area is on a record economic development win streak and its global profile has never been higher. Now, Geske said a direct flight from Asia could be announced in 2023 or 2024.