SW doesn't want Jet Blue at Love

[LakeTahoeFlyer]

A week after American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and the DFW International Airport reached a pact to end the 26-year battle over Love Field, it's already drawing fire. JetBlue is calling on Congress to reject the deal because it would prevent the upstart carrier from adding flights there, according to this story by Bloomberg News.
JetBlue, which just announced service to Hobby this week, says it's interested in two gates at Love.
This underscores the enduring problem at Love. Flight restrictions at the airport are imposed by a federal law, but because it's a regional issue, Congress has been reluctant to repeal them. So instead, Texas lawmakers urged the local parties to reach a solution. But because it's a federal law, Congress has to approve it, and that means other parties with a vested interest, such as rival airlines, get to weigh in.

Even more bizarre, though, is this comment in the Bloomberg story from Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart, who dismissed JetBlue's intervention as lacking merit:

"If they're interested in serving north Texas there's plenty of room'' at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

​

It's an odd statement coming from the airline that wants its passengers to be "free to move about the country." It's also strikingly similar to what American and other airlines used to say about Southwest back in the days when they wanted Love shuttered and all traffic routed through DFW.
JetBlue, of course, doesn't want to fly from DFW for the same reason Southwest has avoided it all these years: it's more expensive, and the taxi times are too long.
The problem for everyone at the signing table last week is that JetBlue's argument makes sense. If Congress approves this deal, it's basically choosing which airlines will fly from each airport.
None of this will be put to rest until the Wright Amendment is gone completely and Love Field is allowed to operate like any other airport.

 

[ivauir]

Let me be the first SWA guy (on this thread) to state that JB has the higher ground here and we (SWA) should retract that statement ASAP.

 

[Dizel8]

"Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart said he isn't concerned about the opposition of discount rival JetBlue because the carrier's argument lacks merit. ``If they're interested in serving north Texas there's plenty of room'' at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, he said."

Too funny, but hey, I guess LUV can then serve every city in the US they want from DFW.

"American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said ``JetBlue never expressed an interest'' in serving Dallas during the previous 18 months of debate over Love Field access. ``Not everyone likes this deal, but it is the deal being pushed forward by a unified front,'' she said."

Cute, but not cute enough. LGB airport had been begging AA for years to serve more cities from LGB, however, AA had no desire to do so, that is untill jetblue showed up. Then they wanted to serve LGB so bad that it was lawsuit time. Of course, what did AA do only a short while later??

I expected this from AA, but to see this from SWA is really surprising and far from flattering!

 

[3BCat]

The problem for everyone at the signing table last week is that JetBlue's argument makes sense. If Congress approves this deal, it's basically choosing which airlines will fly from each airport.
None of this will be put to rest until the Wright Amendment is gone completely and Love Field is allowed to operate like any other airport.

You're absolutely right. A compromise is not in the best interest of the flying public, only AA benefits from keeping this amendment alive. From the article:

American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said ``JetBlue never expressed an interest'' in serving Dallas during the previous 18 months of debate over Love Field access. ``Not everyone likes this deal, but it is the deal being pushed forward by a unified front,'' she said.

I think B6 is illustrating a point by throwing their hat into the ring. Until now, it looked as if the amendment might be repealed. Expressing interest in providing service to Love Field gives lawmakers a litmus test on this latest fiasco in the making. Brilliant! :beer:

Deregulation, free enterprise, smaller government...isn't that what the Republicans are all about?

 

[Dizel8]

``If they're interested in serving north Texas there's plenty of room'' at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, he said."

But clearly, SWA is not interested in having anyone else at Love, they want their cake and eat it too!

 

[michael707767]

Let me be the first SWA guy (on this thread) to state that JB has the higher ground here and we (SWA) should retract that statement ASAP.

good for you.

 

[SWA/FO]

Its the perfect play for jetBlue..."the Wright Amendment wildcard". I expect AirTran will move into play also. I think either way, with JB or AT at DAL, Southwest wins. If the deal remains unchanged SWA wins.

I wonder how JB will feel when we start JFK service in early 2007. One word Pressure...

 

[Dizel8]

Lets us know where you are getting gate space and landing slots, but if you already have found those, welcome to JFK

 

[lowecur]

I wonder how JB will feel when we start JFK service in early 2007. One word Pressure...

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Maybe Herb will offer to build a new terminal at JFK. Ooops, been there done that!

imp:

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

One word Pressure...

How about hypocritical?

 

[Sailpilot]

Let me be the first SWA guy (on this thread) to state that JB has the higher ground here and we (SWA) should retract that statement ASAP.

He had me at "Hello"

 

[SWA/FO]

How about hypocritical?

please explain...you lost me.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

please explain...you lost me.

The one word to describe this press release

 

[SWA/FO]

Oh, I agree... maybe they caught our spokes person off guard. Maybe he never said that and they placed the words into his mouth. that has happened before.

Maybe, he really said "I hope JB gets the Wright thrown out all together so we can start kicking their butt"...

 

[Dizel8]

Maybe not, but nice try!

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Maybe, he really said "I hope JB gets the Wright thrown out all together so we can start kicking their butt"...

Can I change my single word to arrogant?

 

[SWA/FO]

Maybe not, but nice try!

Hey Vin,

Whats the problem? Your not going to get me to root for anybody other then SWA, so you can stop trying.

 

[GuppyWN]

You guys don't get the big picture. By saying "there's plenty of room at DFW" is a direct shot at what AA said to us (and everybody else).

What this statement does is drag B6 and every other airline into the fray thus strenghting the arguement that Wright is Wrong and THE WHOLE THING NEEDS TOSSED.

As I said earlier, I'd be surprised if this turd gets through Congress by December 31 which is the drop dead date for the compromise. Once the deadline is passed you will see many more congressional sponsors on board for a complete repeal of the Wright Ammendment thus truly freeing North Texas from restrictive and overpriced flights.

Gup

 

[SWA/FO]

Can I change my single word to arrogant?

Yeah, I'm ARROGANT. I want my Company to do well. Give me an
A R R O G A N T!!!! You must know me really well.

 

[Dizel8]

I doubt, that SWA wouldn't like to get Love all for themselves while getting rid of the Wright amendment, this agreement more or less ensures that this will happen.

I think B6 just threw a wrench in the machinery and it may very well not be about Love, but about what the federal goverment shouldn't do to encourage competetion.

 

[rayford steele]

Its the perfect play for jetBlue..."the Wright Amendment wildcard". I expect AirTran will move into play also. I think either way, with JB or AT at DAL, Southwest wins. If the deal remains unchanged SWA wins.

I wonder how JB will feel when we start JFK service in early 2007. One word Pressure...

Tell me cheerleader boy, who do you think has the better product and why. k?

 

[B6Driver]

Oh, I agree... maybe they caught our spokes person off guard. Maybe he never said that and they placed the words into his mouth. that has happened before.

Maybe, he really said "I hope JB gets the Wright thrown out all together so we can start kicking their butt"...

I thought SW pilots had class. I guess there's one in every group.

 

[GuppyWN]

Depends on how you define "product". If I want to fly to/from Long Beach or JFK then I'd go with B6. If I want to fly from Los Angeles to Denver then I would try to avoid the connection in JFK.

I don't have personal experience on B6 but I'm guessing the only thing you have that we don't is the TV and radio. Now if your stews are all hotties and give swedish massages enroute then where do I send an app?

Gup

 

[SWA/FO]

Southwest has the better product. We have the network baby! You can fly short, medium and long on us. We gots frequency!! We gots Boeings baby!! The best freq. flyer program in the World. Peanuts!! Did I say peanuts?

All blue has is a TV and long haul.

Plus, we have the best paint job in the aviation industry, yellow or blue hands down the best. We gots GAS baby lots of it...pricing power. We make money on our fares. :bawling: (at least until our hedges run out) but we pay for our airplanes (that was a joke, relax let me highlight that for effect)

I thought SW pilots had class

We do.. I'm not running for political office here. I don't candy coat nothing. If you can't handle it, go bury your head under your pillow and cry yourself to sleep, again.

the SWA/FO

imp:

 

[rayford steele]

Southwest has the better product. We have the network baby! You can fly short, medium and long on us. We gots frequency!! We gots Boeings baby!! The best freq. flyer program in the World. Peanuts!! Did I say peanuts?

All blue has is a TV and long haul.

imp:

WOW! You should be in the marketing department. Woohoo come fly Southwest we have peanuts.
Well JetBlue has cashews! Did I say cashews!?
Well JetBlue has Live TV and assigned seating! Did I say assigned seating and Live TV?
JetBlue has long, medium,and short haul! Did I say long ,medium and short haul?

 

[Dizel8]

If I want to fly from Los Angeles to Denver then I would try to avoid the connection in JFK.

Why, you never know, there might be something good on TV

 

[SWA/FO]

Hey Steele,

this is the Majors board... not the I have 1201 hours and want to fly for a major airline someday board. You're not in play here. You don't even work for JB or WN..

The discussion was about JB going into DAL. I say bring it on. Let the public decide who has the better product. I think Southwest does and your not going to change my mind, ever.

 

[Dizel8]

Speaking of service, wireless inflight internet access will probably be joining the lineup of features at jetblue or one could just settle for the inflight magazine at SWA

 

[SWA/FO]

Then you can go to WWW.SOUTHWEST.COM and buy a ticket!! I love it!!

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap_dyn.html

 

[B6NewGuy]

Oh Boy!

Interesting, am I reading this wright or wrong - B6 ready to take on WN?