From The Dallas Morning News, Thursday, July 21, 2005, "DeLay says he favors repeal":
"...And on Tuesday, senators from Oklahoma and Iowa filed legislation to close Love [Field], potentially forcing Southwest Airlines Co. to move to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, where American Airlines Inc. dominates."
What on earth is this counter-legislation? A bill, of course supported by Southwest Airlines, to repeal the Wright Ammendment is introduced, and now weeks later, two senators (from OK and IA of all places!!!) file to close Love Field. Many questions are in my mind, first of all, what business do these senators have to file legislation to close an airport in a different state? This seems absurd.
Secondly, in the article "Dueling Senate bills carry risks for Southwest--and for Dallas," we see American Airlines now clamoring for gates at Love Field should the Wright Ammendment be repealed. Of course, this would be fair...it's the free marked Southwest has been pushing for all along. But it still seems a bit childish of the largest airline in the world to attempt to stifle Love Field, but then to want to move in and open up flights. Childish, and an impressive display of corporate muscle at the same time. "If we can't have our way, then we'll drive you out of the Dallas market, just as we did with Legend, JetBlue, etc," AMR seems to be saying.
You can read more thoughts on my friend, Doctor J's, blog. If anyone has a different perspective on this issue or any rational explanation for the bill co-sponsored by the Oklahoma & Iowa senators, I welcome your comments.
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7 comments:
At this site, http://www.arguewithsigns.net/archives/2005/04/21/dfw_makes_strange_bedfellows/
James offers the following insightful analysis. Although I like how he "strengthens" his "case" by adding strategically placed quote marks, he made the unforgiveable error of writing "it's" instead of "its."
~DH
-----------------
There is SO much more to consider than the “possibility” of less expensive airfares “promised” by Southwest if the Wright Amendment is repealed.
There are the increases in taxes that EVERY regional resident will face to expand Love Field with the increased need for more roads, parking, security, FAA staff, police, fire-fighters, EMS staff, airport staff, etc.
Who is going to pay for all this? US
Why should we HAVE to pay for all this? This already exists at DFW, and is paid for.
I say that in 5-10 years, the people who THOUGHT they were getting lower airfares will be cursing their support of repealing the Wright Amendment, as will the taxpayers who will NEVER benefit from such future “promises”
These will be the occasional holiday travelers who wish to fly to areas outside the range of an 737, such as Europe and South America. There is never going to be nonstop service from Love Field to these areas, no matter what Southwest “promises”.
By the way, it is quite clear what Southwest Airlines “promises” are worth.
It’s time to look at the reality - Southwest Airline’s monopoly at Love Field has reached it’s limits, and Southwest and a few misguided local leaders just havent realized it yet.
Part II of this new reality: American Airlines does NOT have such a monopoly at DFW. Yes, it is the dominant carrier there, but it does not act in such a back-stabbing, promise-breaking, blatantly anti-competitive manner as Southwest Airlines has done, and is trying to do again. DFW Airport has offered a hell of a good deal for Southwest to move to DFW, the airport of the future. What can Southwest be afraid of by accepting such a deal?
Southwest also competes from LAX, another major hub airport, to many US destinations despite the fact that they also fly nonstop from airports nearby, such as Ontario, Long Beach, Santa Ana, etc, to the same destinations.
So why cant Southwest do the same at DFW? Just go to http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap_dyn.html and click on the routes that Southwest flies from southern California’s airports to the rest of the USA.
Then visualize when Southwest starts doing the same from Love Field, instead of DFW, after the Wright Amendment is repealed. Then you will think again.
Although this site lacks the raw passion of James' comments, it has lots of pseudo-scientific charts and graphs showing why we should keep Wright.
James' comments, while fervent and emotionally charged, are unconvincing to me.
Poster 2, which pseudo-scientific wbesite are you talking about? Did you mean to include a link?
The whole reason behind this bill to shut down Love Field is because Senators Larkin (D-IA) and Inhofe (R-OK) are from rural areas, and they fear that American will cut service to their areas if they have to compete in the real world (i.e.- without the Wright Amendment). Also, American runs a big maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Inhofe's home state), so he fears lots of job cuts if the government lets Southwest compete fairly.
In an interesting twist, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas) has introduced a bill aptly named the "What's Love Got To Do With It Act" to shut down the airports in Tulsa and Des Moines, the major airports in the states of Senators Harkin and Inhofe. I think I'd like the Hensarling fellow if I ever met him, he seems to have a bit of mischievous streak in him...
My main question is why the heck is the federal government deciding who can and can't fly to or from a little airport 1300 miles away from Washington, D.C.? This is a local issue and Congress should never have meddled in this issue...
I forgot to include the link in the 2nd comment above. I can't find it right now, but it came from the site: www.keepdfwstrong.com. The testimonials are particularly interesting.
Hensarling's bill reminds me of a couple years ago before the war when Bush called on Saddam to step down. His answer, "No, YOU step down!"
~DH
Hey check this site...
http://www.setlovefree.com/
Kmart
American Airlines and DFW Airport act like it is the end of the world for the Wright Ammendment to be abolished. Yet, O'hare Airport did not go out of business because Midway Airport opened up. LAX did not go out of business because Burbank opened up. Houston Bush (formerly IAH) did not go out of business when Houston Hobby reopened up. Most major cities have two or more major airports. It is sad for Dallas that the key leaders here have such an inferior perception of Dallas that they believe Dallas can only support one airport. Or, is it cronyism?
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