Posted on 06/11/2005 3:15:34 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
As Southwest Airlines has grown into the nation's dominant discount airline, overwhelming the competition at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and forcing other carriers to match its low-cost model, the one place it hasn't been able to expand is in its hometown.
For 26 years, a federal law named after a former speaker of the House has limited where Southwest can fly from Dallas Love Field, a move made to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when it was new. Today, DFW is five times Love Field's size and is dominated by Fort Worth-based American Airlines.
Southwest released a report this week contending that passengers at BWI overpay by $43 million a year because of the restrictions on interstate flights into Love Field. Passengers from 15 airports studied overpay by $1.8 billion, the report said.
....."Ironic is a good word," said Ron Ricks, a Southwest Airlines senior vice president. "Congressional law says we can't fly to 42 states from Dallas. And in a deregulated environment, does it make sense to regulate one airport? ........
A ticket to Love Field from anywhere can cost at least twice Southwest's regular fares because passengers must buy two tickets, one to an airport in one of seven states allowed to have service to Love Field and another from there to Love Field.
The airline cannot sell connecting flights. To fly to Dallas directly, most passengers must fly to Dallas-Fort Worth, where American Airlines maintains a hub with more than 800 daily flights, four times the number Southwest has anywhere.
American Airlines and congressional supporters of the Wright Amendment, including Rep. Joe L. Barton, a Texas Republican, contend that lifting the ban would harm the North Texas economy.
....Barton has vowed to defeat the bill, introduced last month by Reps. Sam Johnson and Jeb Hensarling, both Texas Republicans.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Wright Amendment ping.
I travel occasionally on business from my home in KC to Chicago and Fort Worth. The distance to each city is about the same. If I plan far enough ahead I can get a round trip to Chicago for less than $100 but even on short notice I can fly for less than $250. However, a round trip to DFW will set me back over $800.
Walk up fare AA SW % diff
Albuquerque $499 $149 70.1%
Amarillo $315 $94 70.2%
Austin $321 $96 70.1%
El Paso $398 $143 64.1%
Houston Hobby$371 $94 74.7%
Lubbock $343 $94 72.6%
Little Rock $455 $94 79.3%
MidlandOdessa$333 $94 71.8%
New Orleans $362 $129 64.4%
Oklahoma City$415 $93 77.6%
San Antonio $298 $95 68.1%
Tulsa $385 $94 75.6%
AVERAGE $375 $106 71.8%
According to Rep Joe Barton - This would be the first time in the history of supply and demand that having more options would be disadvantageous to the consumer. Or maybe Mr. Barton doesn't really care about the voters and is just voting for American Airlines and their inefficient business model.
The other fares comparisons can be seen on
http://www.setlovefree.com/pdf/DFW_FareComparisons.pdf
This is ridiculous. Thank goodness for Sam Johnson. Love Field should be open for flights just like other airports.
(sorry about the rough formatting)
Thanks for the added info.
AA costs more cuz Unions run the airlines. After it goes bankrupt their pensions will be covered by taxpayers so they don't care.
http://www.neoperspectives.com/unions.htm
(at bottom)
big government Republican pork barrel union protecting ping.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Do you have any facts that would indicate that the purpose of limiting flights from Love field is to protect hourly employees jobs?
I submit that the limit on flights is to line the coffers of American Airlines.
We are living in a time when hourly and salaried employees are of no more value to American corporations than pencils lying on a desk.
Maybe it's the "free trader" poison in the business and political waters. Take a big drink if you wish, it will only kill you and our nation.
BTW, the Union said tough, if General Motors goes bankrupt. That's the benefits that we agreed upon. Too bad if everyone loses their jobs and makes nothing, the Union has spoken.
When construction for DFW was proposed, the Airlines (then operating at Love Field) opposed the new plan. In order to pay for the new Airport, the GOVERNMENT forced the Airlines to move and promised to close Love Field. Similar to what happened when Denver closed Stapleton Airport to build DIA. The Government didn't keep the bargain. They allowed Southwest to go back into Love field with the current restriction. American Airlines wants the Government to keep at least part of the bargain. I'm all for deregulation, but the government owns all the airport. If they want the restriction lifted they should be required to privatize the two Dallas airports.
But Texas has a long history of Dem corruption - just ask anyone who lived in TX during the 50s and 60s when LBJ was a state senator and corrupt as they come.
In the data link to SW Air, you can see that similar walk up fares to routes with the same mileage are about $400 more for AA than SW airlines.
Who pays that, Mr. Barton? What's $400 times them number of flights per year out of DFW area? How many millions in economic impact is that, Mr. Barton? Why are flyers at Love Field being penalized just for American Airlines?
To give you an idea of the human consequences, my aged aunt was going to California from Dallas to visit relatives. She had to deplane in Albuquerque and change flights. Due to some mixup, the new plane didn't land in San Francisco as planned.
She became disoriented and was lost for a while. If her plane had been a direct flight this wouldn't have happened. It was totally unnecessary.
It's much more "competitive" to lower American wages and benefits (and standard of living) to Third World poverty levels.
ANy wagers on who a MAJOR donor is for Joe Barton's campaigns???? I'm making an allegation, just stating what appears to be obvious. If AA isn't a major donor, then someone has some "info" on ole' Joe. His assertions have ZERO basis in reality.
What the law actually ammounts to is an unconstitutional protection of ONE business (actually, one corporation). The sooner this is off the books, the better for consumers.
Joe Barton has probably never had to pay for his own airfare....
Since when is $40/hr "Third World poverty levels"?!
Wow...simultaneously arguing that fares will be no cheaper, and that allowing it will have a drastic effect.
No, I was arguing with Willie over General Motors.
Do you expect to be paid the same amount as third world labor does? I doubt if you do. Nor do I expect that your standard of living would be any higher than those in the third world if you were paid as they are.
Your statement about the UAW's take on GM going under is either very uninformed or an out and out lie.
Yesterday G.M.'s stock rose 7% because the UAW agreed to enter into talks with G.M. concerning wages and benefits.
What would be the benefit to a union of putting a corporation under? The union members lose their jobs and the union loses members. I don't think that is an avenue for success.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.