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Organization: Date: 6/2/2006
Southwest willing to deal, CEO says
(Thursday,06/01/2006 © Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
DALLAS - Southwest Airlines' top executive insisted Wednesday that his airline is willing to compromise on efforts to lift the Wright Amendment and accused rival American Airlines of trying to hinder negotiations.
Gary Kelly, chief executive of Dallas-based Southwest, said he has offered three proposals to the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas on the Wright issue. He also said Southwest has offered to give up some of its gates at Dallas Love Field in exchange for lifting the Wright restrictions, which allow flights from Love Field only within Texas and to nearby states.
"The mayors have had several meetings with us, while American was asked to attend but declined," Kelly told about 500 members of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce at the group's annual luncheon.
American has offered no proposals "other than the status quo," Kelly said.
An American spokesman took issue with that characterization.
"American has been in constant dialogue with the mayors as they look for a solution to the Love Field problem," spokesman Tim Wagner said. "Any assertion to the contrary is inaccurate."
He added that "Southwest is simply trying to manipulate the process by spreading misinformation publicly."
Kelly's speech came as two North Texas congressmen are planning to revive their efforts to repeal the amendment.
Reps. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, and Sam Johnson, R-Plano, have scheduled a news conference for today to discuss their drive to end the Love Field restrictions.
Last May, Hensarling and Johnson filed a bill that would allow nonstop flights from Love Field to all 50 states. The bill now has 45 co-sponsors.
Southwest has also resumed lobbying on the issue after a self-imposed moratorium, Kelly said. He hinted that the airline may also begin some new advertising on the issue.
"Stay tuned," he said.
Last year, Southwest ran television ads that poked fun at the amendment, comparing it to other outdated laws. A public interest group backed by American, called Stop and Think, has recently run a series of pro-Wright ads.
Southwest, which flies from Love and has its corporate headquarters near the airport, began a drive in late 2004 to have the measure repealed, arguing that it is outdated and anti-consumer. American, based in Fort Worth, opposes the effort and argues that a repeal would damage its hub at nearby Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
Southwest refuses to move its flights to D/FW despite numerous overtures from the airport, including an incentive offer.
This year the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas began meeting to craft a solution to the squabble. The effort to broker a compromise came after warnings from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that Congress might move on the issue without input from local officials unless the cities offered their own recommendation.
Dallas gave itself a deadline of June 14 to come up with a proposal, and Fort Worth said it would have its own proposal by Aug. 1.
Dallas officials are awaiting the results of a study by DMJM Aviation of Tampa, Fla., on what would happen to Love Field if the Wright Amendment were repealed. The $152,000 analysis was originally set to be done by May 20 but was delayed until about the first or second week in June.
"They're upgrading it, they're answering additional things," Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said Wednesday. "Our deadline is June 14, so that's what we're shooting for."
So far, the mayors and their teams of negotiators have been able to get in a room together only once.
Councilman Ed Oakley, one of three council members on Dallas' team, said he's surprised they've not been able to meet more but said the mayors have done "a pretty good job" in leading the charge.
He said it would be too hard to negotiate with either of the airlines along with five other council members from Fort Worth and Dallas.
Oakley said he believes the update to the Love Field master plan will show that the number of gates will have to be reduced because of the increased traffic that would come from a repeal of the 1979 law.
Kelly said Southwest would be willing to give up some of the 21 gates it leases at the airport. He would not specify how many but said the airline needs at least 14, the number it now operates.
Both negotiating teams agreed at their meeting that they want to protect their investment in D/FW Airport.
"The sticking point has now become the other airports that the two cities now control," Oakley said.
Trebor Banstetter, 817-390-7064 [email protected] David Wethe, 817-685-3803 [email protected]
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Southwest willing to deal, CEO says
(Thursday,06/01/2006 © Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
DALLAS - Southwest Airlines' top executive insisted Wednesday that his airline is willing to compromise on efforts to lift the Wright Amendment and accused rival American Airlines of trying to hinder negotiations.
Gary Kelly, chief executive of Dallas-based Southwest, said he has offered three proposals to the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas on the Wright issue. He also said Southwest has offered to give up some of its gates at Dallas Love Field in exchange for lifting the Wright restrictions, which allow flights from Love Field only within Texas and to nearby states.
"The mayors have had several meetings with us, while American was asked to attend but declined," Kelly told about 500 members of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce at the group's annual luncheon.
American has offered no proposals "other than the status quo," Kelly said.
An American spokesman took issue with that characterization.
"American has been in constant dialogue with the mayors as they look for a solution to the Love Field problem," spokesman Tim Wagner said. "Any assertion to the contrary is inaccurate."
He added that "Southwest is simply trying to manipulate the process by spreading misinformation publicly."
Kelly's speech came as two North Texas congressmen are planning to revive their efforts to repeal the amendment.
Reps. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, and Sam Johnson, R-Plano, have scheduled a news conference for today to discuss their drive to end the Love Field restrictions.
Last May, Hensarling and Johnson filed a bill that would allow nonstop flights from Love Field to all 50 states. The bill now has 45 co-sponsors.
Southwest has also resumed lobbying on the issue after a self-imposed moratorium, Kelly said. He hinted that the airline may also begin some new advertising on the issue.
"Stay tuned," he said.
Last year, Southwest ran television ads that poked fun at the amendment, comparing it to other outdated laws. A public interest group backed by American, called Stop and Think, has recently run a series of pro-Wright ads.
Southwest, which flies from Love and has its corporate headquarters near the airport, began a drive in late 2004 to have the measure repealed, arguing that it is outdated and anti-consumer. American, based in Fort Worth, opposes the effort and argues that a repeal would damage its hub at nearby Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
Southwest refuses to move its flights to D/FW despite numerous overtures from the airport, including an incentive offer.
This year the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas began meeting to craft a solution to the squabble. The effort to broker a compromise came after warnings from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that Congress might move on the issue without input from local officials unless the cities offered their own recommendation.
Dallas gave itself a deadline of June 14 to come up with a proposal, and Fort Worth said it would have its own proposal by Aug. 1.
Dallas officials are awaiting the results of a study by DMJM Aviation of Tampa, Fla., on what would happen to Love Field if the Wright Amendment were repealed. The $152,000 analysis was originally set to be done by May 20 but was delayed until about the first or second week in June.
"They're upgrading it, they're answering additional things," Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said Wednesday. "Our deadline is June 14, so that's what we're shooting for."
So far, the mayors and their teams of negotiators have been able to get in a room together only once.
Councilman Ed Oakley, one of three council members on Dallas' team, said he's surprised they've not been able to meet more but said the mayors have done "a pretty good job" in leading the charge.
He said it would be too hard to negotiate with either of the airlines along with five other council members from Fort Worth and Dallas.
Oakley said he believes the update to the Love Field master plan will show that the number of gates will have to be reduced because of the increased traffic that would come from a repeal of the 1979 law.
Kelly said Southwest would be willing to give up some of the 21 gates it leases at the airport. He would not specify how many but said the airline needs at least 14, the number it now operates.
Both negotiating teams agreed at their meeting that they want to protect their investment in D/FW Airport.
"The sticking point has now become the other airports that the two cities now control," Oakley said.
Trebor Banstetter, 817-390-7064 [email protected] David Wethe, 817-685-3803 [email protected]
News | Business | Sports | Entertainment | Living | Travel | Shop Local | Classifieds | Jobs | Cars | Homes About the Real Cities Network | Terms of Use & Privacy Statement | About Knight Ridder | Copyright
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