SWAPoolie
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Lawmakers Want Wright Amendment Repealed
Wednesday May 25, 10:47 pm ET
By Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press Writer Texas Lawmakers to Propose Repeal of Southwest Airlines' Restriction at Dallas Airport
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two North Texans in Congress said Wednesday they think it's time to repeal a restriction that prevents Southwest Airlines from offering direct flights from Dallas' Love Field to most of the country.
Republican Reps. Sam Johnson and Jeb Hensarling said in a statement Wednesday they would propose immediate repeal of the Wright Amendment, which limits commercial flights from Love Field to Texas and seven nearby states.
Congress imposed the restriction in 1979 to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the primary hub of Fort Worth-based American Airlines, against competition from Love Field in central Dallas. Southwest Airlines Co. is based at Love Field and has been lobbying Congress to repeal the Wright Amendment.
Johnson and Hensarling say repealing the amendment would increase competition among air carriers, leading to lower air fares. Johnson said he is not choosing one airline over the other.
They are facing opposition from other Texans, including Rep. Joe Barton, chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce committee. Barton will "vigorously fight any effort to repeal that measure," spokesman Brooks Landgraf said
Ed Stewart, a spokesman for Southwest, said the proposal is a "very significant step toward the ultimate goal of giving the people of North Texas access to low fares through unfettered airline competition."
American, a unit of AMR Corp., disagreed.
"We continue to believe that North Texas communities made the correct decision to establish DFW International Airport as the aviation gateway for the region," said American spokesman Tim Wagner. "The wisdom of that decision has been borne out over the past 32 years by the unprecedented growth of the entire region."
The competing lawmakers planned separate news conferences on the issue Thursday.
Wednesday May 25, 10:47 pm ET
By Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press Writer Texas Lawmakers to Propose Repeal of Southwest Airlines' Restriction at Dallas Airport
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two North Texans in Congress said Wednesday they think it's time to repeal a restriction that prevents Southwest Airlines from offering direct flights from Dallas' Love Field to most of the country.
Republican Reps. Sam Johnson and Jeb Hensarling said in a statement Wednesday they would propose immediate repeal of the Wright Amendment, which limits commercial flights from Love Field to Texas and seven nearby states.
Congress imposed the restriction in 1979 to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the primary hub of Fort Worth-based American Airlines, against competition from Love Field in central Dallas. Southwest Airlines Co. is based at Love Field and has been lobbying Congress to repeal the Wright Amendment.
Johnson and Hensarling say repealing the amendment would increase competition among air carriers, leading to lower air fares. Johnson said he is not choosing one airline over the other.
They are facing opposition from other Texans, including Rep. Joe Barton, chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce committee. Barton will "vigorously fight any effort to repeal that measure," spokesman Brooks Landgraf said
Ed Stewart, a spokesman for Southwest, said the proposal is a "very significant step toward the ultimate goal of giving the people of North Texas access to low fares through unfettered airline competition."
American, a unit of AMR Corp., disagreed.
"We continue to believe that North Texas communities made the correct decision to establish DFW International Airport as the aviation gateway for the region," said American spokesman Tim Wagner. "The wisdom of that decision has been borne out over the past 32 years by the unprecedented growth of the entire region."
The competing lawmakers planned separate news conferences on the issue Thursday.
