enigma
good ol boy
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 2,279
Flopgut said:And it is not about saving AA. It is about the sanctity of the competition. AA followed the prescribed sequence of airport growth as was set out for the metroplex. Your airline was allowed relief from the agreement because it was a small airline.
Flop, I believe that SWA got around the forced move to DFW because SWA was not controlled by the CAB. At the time, serving only Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, SWA fell under the laws of Texas not the Federal Government when it came to route structure etc. It had nothing to do with being small. Also, Kelleher and company were in court for around two years fighting for the right (no pun intended) to continue at Love. Eventually, some court ruled that the LAW allowed SWA to operate out of Love.
Years later, when SWA was obviously growing into a carrier that could serve a larger area than just the Texas Triangle, the powers that be got FortWorthless Jim to enact the Wright Amendment in order to limit competition for DFW airport.
I can see where you're coming from, that American/Braniff/ etc were forced to move and that not moving gave Southwest an advantage. But that was then and this is now. In my humble opinion, when AA moved into Love in order to run Legend out of business, AA lost any and all right to use the "we were forced out of Love" argument.
As I see it, DFW alone is NOT able to provide efficient runway/terminal service for the entire north Texas metroplex. As such, in short order more runways/terminals will be needed and just as we see in the NY metro area, each airport will most likely be dominated by one network carrier. That's just the way that the business seems to shake out in the somewhat free airline market.
AA should get smart and use SWA's push to revoke the WA as leverage against the DFW board in an effort to reduce their costs of operating at DFW. I'd think the leverage against the DFW board would be seen as a Godsend. If I were Arpey, I'd be sending Colleen a dozen roses and a few Arturo Fuentes to Gary Kelly. If the WA goes away as it should, no one will want to attempt to fill the vacant gates at DFW and I'd think that would be perfectly fine with AA.
regards,
enigma