FlyBoeingJets
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D/FW Airport poll: Passengers want Southwest to fly out of D/FW
Friday July 8, 12:31 pm ET
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Friday fired another round in its all-out war with Southwest Airlines Co., which wants to open Dallas Love Field to long-haul service that would directly compete with D/FW Airport.
D/FW Airport announced it is launching this weekend an advertising campaign stressing that D/FW and Dallas-based Southwest "can work together to strengthen the North Texas economy and add to the 268,000 jobs tied to flight activity at D/FW."
In months of volleys between the two, D/FW Airport has systematically argued that Southwest (NYSE: LUV - News) should move its operations from Love to D/FW Airport. Southwest -- notorious for remaining one of the nation's few profitable airlines by carefully choosing the airports it flies from -- has argued D/FW isn't attractive for a low-fare carrier whose operation is built carefully around the quick turnaround of its aircraft.
D/FW says it will launch a print advertising campaign this weekend to inform the public about what it described as the positive impact a strong relationship between Southwest Airlines and D/FW can have on the North Texas economy.
"According to the latest economic survey conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation, D/FW International Airport generates more than $14 billion in economic activity every year, and supports more than 268,000 jobs that pay more than $6 billion in wages," according to Joseph Lopano, executive vice president of marketing and terminal management at D/FW in a release from the airport.
"These are real jobs and real people that make our economy and neighborhoods stronger with the success of D/FW," added Lopano. "Southwest Airlines can also be profitable at D/FW and add billions of dollars to this economy by building on the success of D/FW and having our airport as a strong partner. We've said in the past we will even build them their own terminal, and we are still offering free rent and other financial incentives valued at over $22 million to come to D/FW."
The airport also announced the results of a passenger poll it took between July 2 and July 5.
The airport said of the 2,714 passengers who were asked "Would you like to see Southwest Airlines fly out of D/FW Airport?" 1,995 had an opinion, and of those, 62 percent said yes, and 11 percent said responded "no."
The airport also said a Lehman Brothers report that it commissioned confirms Southwest could be profitable at D/FW and add $500 million in revenue.
"We believe the combination of facilities availability, market appeal, the exit of a secondary competitor and Southwest's status as one of two hometown airlines in Dallas make the opportunity too compelling to ignore," the Lehman report concluded. Also on Friday, D/FW hired a tow plane to carry a message banner over the runways of Love Field, the home of Southwest Airlines. The banner read "Travelers Want Southwest at D/FW NOW!" The plane also carried the message over Southwest's corporate headquarters, which are adjacent to Love Field, as well as over downtown Dallas, into North and South Dallas and over Plano.
Friday July 8, 12:31 pm ET
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Friday fired another round in its all-out war with Southwest Airlines Co., which wants to open Dallas Love Field to long-haul service that would directly compete with D/FW Airport.
D/FW Airport announced it is launching this weekend an advertising campaign stressing that D/FW and Dallas-based Southwest "can work together to strengthen the North Texas economy and add to the 268,000 jobs tied to flight activity at D/FW."
In months of volleys between the two, D/FW Airport has systematically argued that Southwest (NYSE: LUV - News) should move its operations from Love to D/FW Airport. Southwest -- notorious for remaining one of the nation's few profitable airlines by carefully choosing the airports it flies from -- has argued D/FW isn't attractive for a low-fare carrier whose operation is built carefully around the quick turnaround of its aircraft.
D/FW says it will launch a print advertising campaign this weekend to inform the public about what it described as the positive impact a strong relationship between Southwest Airlines and D/FW can have on the North Texas economy.
"According to the latest economic survey conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation, D/FW International Airport generates more than $14 billion in economic activity every year, and supports more than 268,000 jobs that pay more than $6 billion in wages," according to Joseph Lopano, executive vice president of marketing and terminal management at D/FW in a release from the airport.
"These are real jobs and real people that make our economy and neighborhoods stronger with the success of D/FW," added Lopano. "Southwest Airlines can also be profitable at D/FW and add billions of dollars to this economy by building on the success of D/FW and having our airport as a strong partner. We've said in the past we will even build them their own terminal, and we are still offering free rent and other financial incentives valued at over $22 million to come to D/FW."
The airport also announced the results of a passenger poll it took between July 2 and July 5.
The airport said of the 2,714 passengers who were asked "Would you like to see Southwest Airlines fly out of D/FW Airport?" 1,995 had an opinion, and of those, 62 percent said yes, and 11 percent said responded "no."
The airport also said a Lehman Brothers report that it commissioned confirms Southwest could be profitable at D/FW and add $500 million in revenue.
"We believe the combination of facilities availability, market appeal, the exit of a secondary competitor and Southwest's status as one of two hometown airlines in Dallas make the opportunity too compelling to ignore," the Lehman report concluded. Also on Friday, D/FW hired a tow plane to carry a message banner over the runways of Love Field, the home of Southwest Airlines. The banner read "Travelers Want Southwest at D/FW NOW!" The plane also carried the message over Southwest's corporate headquarters, which are adjacent to Love Field, as well as over downtown Dallas, into North and South Dallas and over Plano.