Posted on 11/30/2005 3:28:37 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
President Bush is expected to sign a bill today that will open up air service between Dallas Love Field and points in Missouri for the first time since 1979, when Congress imposed limits in the Wright Amendment.
"The president is expected to sign the bill [today]," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.
In the morning, the president is giving a major speech on Iraq at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Upon his return to the White House, Duffy said, Bush will sign several appropriations bills, including a bill funding the Transportation Department and other agencies. That bill contains the Missouri provision inserted by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.
The Wright Amendment limits Love Field service to Texas and seven nearby states. Dallas-based Southwest, which flies out of Love Field, is poised to begin advertising new service to Kansas City and St. Louis immediately after the bill is signed.
"Once we know it's been signed, we can swing into action," said Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart.
"We can start advertising, we can start planning big press events for the inaugural flights, and we can get the aircraft in place."
"We're champing at the bit to get started," he said. The ads are ready, he acknowledged, and he predicted that the marketing marching orders would be sent out one minute after the bill is signed. If the president signs it at 2 p.m., Stewart said, "then at 2:01 p.m., we'll call the advertising agency."
Stewart would not release any information about schedules or how soon flights will begin after the bill signing, other than that service will start "shortly thereafter."
"I have not seen a specific date," he said. "I think we could do it by Christmas, certainly."
Fort Worth-based American Airlines, which serves Kansas City and St. Louis from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, is expected to compete with Southwest by offering service from Love Field.
"Once it becomes law, we want to compete as quickly as possible," American spokesman Tim Wagner said.
American officials met with Love Field managers this month when it became clear that the exemption of Missouri from the Wright Amendment would be included in the funding bill.
"It will take some time," said Wagner, explaining that the three gates that American has leased at Love Field have never been used and need to be furnished and updated. American has been fighting a Southwest-led effort to persuade Congress to repeal the Wright Amendment, named for Jim Wright, D-Fort Worth, then the House majority leader.
American now has 11 daily fights from D/FW to Kansas City and 12 to St. Louis, largely providing direct service.
"That's the type of passenger we've been concerned all along would move to Love Field," Wagner said.
And there are passengers elsewhere who look forward to flying into the airport.
"I'm personally thrilled that this is happening since my entire family lives in Dallas," said Pam Whiting, vice president of communications for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. "My sister lives five minutes from Love Field. I have taken Southwest from here to Tulsa and Tulsa to Dallas to get around the Wright Amendment."
Excerpt from The Dallas Mourning News via WFAA.com:Bush signs bill lifting Wright restrictions on Missouri
04:49 PM CST on Wednesday, November 30, 2005
By ERIC TORBENSON and ROBERT DODGE / The Dallas Morning News
President Bush has signed a spending bill that adds Missouri to the list of states exempted from restrictions of the Wright Amendment.
Wednesday's approval of the bill means that Southwest Airlines or any other carrier can launch nonstop flights from Dallas Love Field to Kansas City or St. Louis. Southwest has said it intends to do that, but attempts to reach the airline weren’t immediately successful.
Isn't this sad that the President of the United States, in a time of war, and with real global issues to deal with, has to take time to sign bills (which the congress had to waste time writing) simply to micromanage the landing/takeoff/non-stop status of private airline companies?
If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
Current Wright Amendment News
November 30, 2005
Missouri Added to the Wright AmendmentPresident Bush recently signed into law legislation that allows nonstop commercial flights from Dallas Love Field to and from Missouri. Missouri Senator Kit Bond spearheaded the effort to give more Americans the Freedom to Fly to the North Texas airport of their choice. One down- 41 states to go!
Isn't it sad that this anti-capitalist and protectionist law was (and still is) in existence to begin with?
Goody, Goody, Gumdrops!!!Another choice in getting to western Oklahoma!! American has been robbing us blind to fly to Dallas to get to W OK! More money left over for boot and tack shopping!!!!!
I'll be happy when a President signs a bill overturning the stupid, anti capitialist Wright Amendment.
IF AA and DFW Airport can't compete against SWA, let them both fold like a cheap tent!
Jeesh, I hate it when Republicans act like Commies to protect a big giver( Kay Bailey and the AA contributions)
Yes.
There's a certain airline whose initials are "AA" that has its headquarters located in Jim Wright's old district in downtown Fort Worth.
Dallas and Fort Worth got together to build an airport to serve both their cities when Love Field, the original Dallas-area commercial airport, was approaching capacity. But there were concerns that airlines wouldn't move from the old DAL to the newer, pricier DFW, so legislation (the Wright Amendment, and yes, it is that Jim Wright) was passed preventing interstate commercial travel out of DAL, forcing the major airlines to use the new airport. Southwest at the time only flew within Texas so was not affected, but since deregulation they've been lobbying hard to get the amendment repealed so they can fly from their home base to more destinations. Southwest doesn't want to move to DFW because part of their business plan is to fly into smaller, less busy airports. Several years back seven states were exempted from the ban, and with this bill two more will be added to the exemption.
What would be so bad if Southwest moved to DFW and Dallas closed DAL to passenger airline traffic?
"Southwest doesn't want to move to DFW because part of their business plan is to fly into smaller, less busy airports. Several years back seven states were exempted from the ban, and with this bill two more will be added to the exemption."
And they shouldn't have too.
The WSJ had a long article on Southwest's new service to Denver. Says they had 12 planes sitting around with New Orleans out of commission.
The Wright Amendment wasn't passed till 1978 when airlines were deregulated and Southwest was starting to add routes outside of Texas.
That was the original plan back in the 70's when DFW was built, but Southwest doesn't want to move because it's more expensive to fly out of DFW and less convenient at least to some areas of the metroplex.
"What would be so bad if Southwest moved to DFW and Dallas closed DAL to passenger airline traffic?"
I don't know. But ol' Papa government has no business telling SWA which airport they can fly out of as long as both are accepting commercial airlines. If Midway in Chicago can function with O'Hare without the same nonsense forced on SWA, then Love and DFW can coexist.
Again, this is Kay Bailey and Joe Barton holding the last threads to this anti-capitalist piece of trash called the Wright Amendement!
Protect the Fort Worth tax base. The DFW terminals are in Tarrant County. Tax on all the booze sales, ad valorum tax, etc. benefit his people at the expense of Dallas residents.
Also, as an interesting aside, I understand the other side of the argument. DFW was definitely an expensive undertaking (and as an aside - DFW airport has more land area than Manhattan!), but if they haven't recouped it in 20 years, too bad so sad. AA needs to find other ways to make money than through laws and Congress.
1979, but yes, you're right, it was post-deregulation. It seems at the time several states Southwest already flew to were exempted, so it didn't affect them until later expansion.
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