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Big-name politicians line up behind Southwest in Dallas flight battle

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canyonblue

Everyone loves Southwest
Joined
Nov 26, 2001
Posts
2,314
A Nevada senator plans to file a bill to repeal the Wright Amendment in the U.S. Senate today, a move that will intensify the drive to lift restrictions at Dallas Love Field.

John Ensign, a Republican and a member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, said in April that he planned to challenge the amendment.

In a news conference today, Ensign will be joined by two high-profile supporters: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

McCain, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, is known for his independence and is widely considered to be a 2008 presidential hopeful. Brownback, well-known as a social conservative, is also reportedly exploring a 2008 presidential bid.

Herb Kelleher, co-founder and chairman of Southwest Airlines, will also be there.

Ensign "sees this as a free-market issue," his spokesman Jack Finn said. "He believes that whenever possible, the government should get out of the way and let the market dictate who can fly, where and when."

The Senate bill is similar to a measure filed in the U.S. House in May by two North Texas congressmen. That bill, which is pending in the House Subcommittee on Aviation, has 25 co-sponsors.

The Senate measure gives the anti-Wright campaign a significant boost. Both houses would have to pass a bill to overturn the 1979 federal law. Unlike the House bill, which was filed in May, Mr. Ensign's proposal would not simply repeal the Wright amendment. Instead, it would amend 1997 legislation by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., by expanding flights to the 42 states and Puerto Rico where they are now prohibited.

The wording contains a subtle political strategy: By naming all the states, it would force opposing members in either the Senate or House to vote against increasing low-fare air service to their states.

The law allows flights from Love Field only to states that border Texas. Mississippi, Kansas and Alabama were later added. It was passed to protect nearby Dallas/Fort Worth Airport from competition.

The law has the effect of restricting Dallas-based Southwest, the nation's largest low-fare carrier, to short-haul flights from North Texas, where the airline operates only at Love. It says D/FW is too large, too expensive and too congested for its lean business model.

Critics say that the amendment artificially inflates fares to distant cities from North Texas because it prevents discounter Southwest from competing with American Airlines, which operates a hub at D/FW and controls more than 80 percent of that airport's market share.

Last year, Southwest began a campaign to get the amendment repealed after decades of neutrality on the issue. Gary Kelly, the airline's chief executive, argues that the law is outdated and unfair to consumers.

Studies commissioned by Southwest and D/FW have found that fares to many cities would drop substantially if the amendment is lifted.

But D/FW officials say removing the restrictions would hurt their airport, because many flights would shift to Love. That, in turn, would hurt the area economy, which they say depends on the airport.

American has said it will move hundreds of daily flights to Love if the amendment is overturned.

D/FW officials are pressing Southwest to begin long-haul service at their airport instead. The airport has been running ads asking the airline to begin service, and officials have pledged to build the carrier a new terminal.

D/FW officials said they weren't surprised by the bill and pointed out that they have offered Southwest $22 million to begin flights at D/FW.

"We believe a better approach is for Southwest Airlines to join with us to grow the North Texas economy and benefit all of our citizens by beginning service at D/FW," said Kevin Cox, the airport's chief operating officer. "They can begin service from D/FW tomorrow without an act of Congress."

American officials have also been lobbying strongly against any move to overturn the amendment.

"We continue to be concerned that any encroachment on the Wright Amendment will have widespread negative effects on the North Texas community," American spokesman Tim Wagner said.

American executives have said that a Wright repeal could cost the airline hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.

Southwest maintains that opening Love Field to longer flights would help the local economy by spurring traffic demand and bringing more travelers to the region.

Southwest executives praised Ensign, as well as McCain and Brownback.

"This is a significant step toward the ultimate goal of removing anti-competitive legislation and giving the flying public access to low fares through a truly deregulated airline industry," spokesman Ed Stewart said.

The bill comes as Southwest has begun advertising its anti-Wright stance. The airline has bought billboards around Love Field and the American Airlines Center in Dallas, urging the amendment's repeal.

It has also bought 30-second TV spots featuring a map of Love Field connecting to cities like Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla. Those ads have aired during Texas Rangers baseball games.

More ads are in the pipeline, Stewart said. He declined to disclose how much Southwest is spending on the anti-Wright advertising.

"This is part of our continuing education, letting people know why the Wright Amendment is hurting North Texas," he said.
 
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Competition is a good thing. And SWA going into DFW would be a good thing, IMO.

If AA, DAL (what's left), et. al. can't find a way to compete...we'll, I don't see that as a problem.

Bring 'em on!
 
McCain is such a pos the guy hates anything to do with comercial aviation.
 
Buckaroo said:
It's a done deal. The Wright Amendment WILL be repealed.


Mark my words.

Hey, I said it first!

No kidding, the only entities who don't realize it are DFW and AA.
 
G4G5 said:
McCain is such a pos the guy hates anything to do with comercial aviation.

His son flies (or flew) for AA, right?

Bye Bye--General Lee
 
aa73 said:
Still does, although the rumor is they are not on speaking terms.

So his son just pretends he's another pilot walking by him at DFW?
 
How hypocritical of SWA to support the repeal while also supporting the limits on gates and flights so they (still) won't really have to compete with anyone out of LUV. How ironic that they are now committing the same types of deeds they once railed against when they were getting started.
 

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