Texas tourism is urging Qantas to operate an A380 between Sydney and Dallas as officials from the state signalled plans to launch a major consumer marketing push in September.
An online travel agent training program is also on the agenda as it seeks to improve the still-limited knowledge of Texas among retailers.
“The knowledge is improving but there's still a way to go,” said Phillip Jones, president and chief executive of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The lone star state will in addition look towards co-operative marketing to boost its profile as it aims to fully exploit the Qantas direct flight to Dallas Fort Worth.
Frequencies will rise to daily flights from July with Jones now intent on seeing an A380 deployed on the route.
“We have spoken to Qantas and they are open to it,” Jones told Travel Today.
Demand is strong and an increase in promotional activity will stimulate demand further and strengthen the argument, he said.
Jones, in Australia as part of a delegation of senior Texas tourism officials, said arrivals from Australia have soared by 90% since Qantas introduced direct services last May.
An average of 62 passengers per flight remain in Dallas with the remainder connecting to other US ports.
