No hard feelings - I was also enjoying the debate, but the bullet points summed up my position.
You are wrong about Wright not affecting you. In the new transportation bill just signed into law, restrictions on SW flying to Missouri have been exempted from Wright. As a result, American has reduced their rates from DFW to some routes in Missouri. An earlier poster said that was proof that American could lower their fares. My question is, how much is American losing when they charge those fares? The airline industry can't raise ticket prices enough to cover the higher cost of jet fuel right now.
American is a major employer in the North Texas area. After 9/11, when the airlines were hit hard, the economy in N. Texas suffered, as did the already hurting economy in Tulsa where American has their maintenance facility. I'm not saying I want the government to prop up failing businesses, but I don't want them to go out of there way to make some businesses fail. The Federal Government (which is you and I) has already taken over the pension plan for United and I personally don't want to take over any other pension plans.
Love was supposed to be torn down when DFW was built. SW begged "please, please, we'll only fly little trips and won't hurt anyone" and got Wright. If there had originally been a provision in Wright to say that when DFW was strong and stable, Wright would be repealed, I might feel differently - but there isn't. A deal is a deal.
They shouldn't be losing anything. SWA charges those fares and is making money - why can't American? AA is a fine airline. My father-in-law flys for them & I worked for them in college. But they run an inefficient operation (the hub-and-spoke model) and the fact that they're losing money isn't SWA's fault.
Love was supposed to be torn down when DFW was built.
No it wasn't, but Dallas could tear down Love right now if it wanted to - but don't think for a second that SWA would move to D/FW. They'd sooner go to San Antonio or Austin.
SW begged "please, please, we'll only fly little trips and won't hurt anyone" and got Wright. If there had originally been a provision in Wright to say that when DFW was strong and stable, Wright would be repealed, I might feel differently - but there isn't. A deal is a deal.
SWA did nothing of the sort. SWA, and all airlines, had their hands tied before deregulation. Once deregulation came along (years after DFW was up and running), Southwest was free to fly anywhere from Love. Only then was the Wright Amendment passed - specifically to prevent Southwest from enjoying the fruits of deregulation that EVERY OTHER carrier got.
SWA was never part of any of the 'deals' that happened re Love Field and D/FW - it didn't even exist at the time! This thing was litigated over and over - with SWA winning every time. So D/FW and AA got Wright to tack his amendment to the end of a completely unrelated bill. Corruption of worst sort, IMO - I'd be surprised if money didn't change hands.