In international Terminal D, which opened Saturday, the cheering began about 6:30 a.m. from the line of greeters and members of Metroplex ethnic communities. International clothing included Mexican, Turkish, Bolivian, Indonesian, Pakistani, Indian and Korean.
With a mariachi band playing and Chinese lion dancers leaping, the line cheered as the 118 passengers from the first arrival, Mexicana Flight 178 from Zacatecas, cleared customs.
The $1.2 billion terminal's first passenger was Alberto Aguilar of Lewisville, returning from a visit with his wife and children, who don't have visas.
D/FW Chief Executive Jeff Fegan said that Terminal D is for North Texans and the rest of the world and that they should use it well. About 11 million passengers are expected in fiscal 2006.
About four hours later, as Korean drum dancers pounded, the line cheered the 380 passengers from Korean Air Flight 31, Terminal D's first arrival from the Pacific Rim.
Just before noon, the international-arrival hall filled with families of troops returning from the Middle East as part of the military's rest and recuperation program, then with the troops.
The cheering from the line grew even louder; then the shouts of "Welcome to America" mingled with the shouts of "Welcome home."
