Well, if you want revisionist history, I guess you're correct. If you want the truth, WN AT THAT TIME wanted the WA to protect its little monopoly at LOVE Field. It absolutely would have been put out of business if AA, Braniff, and Delta had all put substantial numbers of flights into Love Field.
I'm not an expert but I do my homework:
The Wright Amendment did absolutely nothing to give Southwest exclusive operating rights at Love Field. In fact, the Wright Amendment allowed for unfettered competition at Love Field as long as it met the geographical or seat-number restrictions.
You're confusing the WA with the document signed by Love Field's CAB-certified airlines in 1968 promising to move their operations to DFW upon its opening. This was the key element leading to the establishment of the 1968 Regional Airport Concurrent Bond Ordinance that funded the construction of DFW.
SWA did not begin operations until 1971 and was not a signatory party to this agreement. Thus, when everyone else headed west to the barren prairie, SWA legally remained at Love Field (as ruled by numerous state and federal courts).
Remember that Continental Express ran RJ's to Cleveland and ASA flew RJs to Atlanta, all within the limits of the WA and outside of the DFW Airport Use Agreement.
After AA's successful legal wrangling in the late 1990s it was ruled that the limitations imposed by the DFW Airport Use Agreement were no longer valid. Thus AA was permitted to return to Love Field and flew MD80s - then F100s - then RJs to AUS for a while. Of course, let's not forget the granddaddy of all 56-seat operations, the Legend/AA episiodes of 2000.
It's interesting to speculate that had Braniff, Trans-Texas, and Continental not entered repetitive legal challenges against SWA's certification by the Texas Aeronautics Commission, SWA may have gotten off the ground in time to have been a party to the 1968 agreement and all would be right in the DFW-view of the world!
Plus, WN has made sure that gates at Love are blocked and terminals demolished so that no other airlines could start service there. That being said, may the BEST airline prevail!
The modifications of Love Field were conducted under the provisions of the Love Field Master Plan. That document is controlled by the City of Dallas, not Southwest Airlines. Also see the Dallas Love Field Competition Plan to discover the method of gate allocation and accomodation of new entrant air carriers.
Here's your homework assignment:
Read the following then get back to me if you discover any of the information I stated is incorrect. That's the only way I can be assured that I am not spreading untruths!
1. Dallas Love Field Master Plan. (Unfortunately the www.dallaslovefieldmasterplan.com website was recently hacked by some Turkish organization. Hopefully it will be operational again soon.)
2. Dallas Love Field
Compeition Plan.
3. Section 29© of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 (
the Wright Amendment).
4. The Handbook of Texas Online article regarding
Southwest Airline's history.
Obvioulsy there are a lot of other references but this is a good start!
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