Wright Amendment On CSPAN

[AirwAr]

CSPAN is broadcasting the house discussions on the Wright Amendment. It sounds like the agreement is going to pass.

 

[AirwAr]

It's over now, but I didn't catch the results.

 

[Hopeful]

It's over now, but I didn't catch the results.

The compromise passed!

 

[SharoninSAT]

The compromise passed!

It passed the Senate this afternoon and at 10p tonight passed the House!The vote was 386 to 22 (CSPAN)

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

Have not been following it. Is the outcome good or bad for AA

 

[jimntx]

Have not been following it. Is the outcome good or bad for AA

On the surface, bad for AA because it allows SWA to fly anywhere in the U.S. from DAL with its minuscule landing fees while AA is committed to DFW with its much higher landing fees.

However, I am not yet convinced that it is all that good for SWA. Over the long run I do not see how this "free enterprise, pro-competition" Republican Congress can justify a law that restricts access to a Federally-supported airport to only 3 airlines--SWA, AA, and CO.

I have a feeling that at some point other airlines--think JetBlue, Airtran, Frontier--will want to take advantage of the $.55/1000lbs landing fees at DAL vs. the $4.94/1000lbs fees at DFW. And, I have a feeling that they will have no problem convincing the Federal courts that as duly constituted U.S. flag airlines, they too have a right to access to DAL. Now, since this law calls for demolishing all gates except 20 (with 16 going to SWA, 2 each to CO and AA), the courts are going to tell the City of Dallas that they have to make gates available.

We, the taxpayers of Dallas, are then faced with paying for the re-construction of some or all of the demolished gates, OR the tenants--SWA, CO, AA--will be forced to give up gates. Now since SWA will have 80% of the gates, who do you think will have to give up gates?

 

[swflyer]

Now since SWA will have 80% of the gates, who do you think will have to give up gates?

Uh, American!!! Since they would have come to their senses and stopped paying for a split operation in the Metroplex!! <_<

Sorry folks, Jim has such a good time posting on the SWA board, I couldn't resist. I promise to behave now. :unsure:

swflyer <-----returning to his own playpen

 

[jimntx]

Uh, American!!! Since they would have come to their senses and stopped paying for a split operation in the Metroplex!! <_<

Sorry folks, Jim has such a good time posting on the SWA board, I couldn't resist. I promise to behave now. :unsure:

swflyer <-----returning to his own playpen

Uh, American still will have and use 2 gates at DAL. Before you come over and play, try to connect with the facts first.

 

[a320av8r]

Don't have a dog in this fight but just wondering:
Shouldn't WN have to surrender DAL gates and slots to other airlines to foster "low fare" competition? I think it would be illegal to allow a monopoly and restrict competition thereby harming the taxpayers of the great state of Texas.
WN may have shot themselves in the foot over this in the long run.
I can see a lawsuit now...

 

[swflyer]

Uh, American still will have and use 2 gates at DAL. Before you come over and play, try to connect with the facts first.

"UH, answering your own question "who will have to give up gates" leads to the answer I gave, which was pretty easy to see for the non-humor challenged. :blink:

Not ignorant to the facts, just pointing out where some waste is happening on a certain airlines balance sheet, IMHO. 🙄

AND before you start about another Southwest broken promise, I am now REALLY out of here. 😛

Do try to lighten up, dear. Less wrinkles that way

 

[LoneStarMike]

I have a feeling that at some point other airlines--think JetBlue, Airtran, Frontier--will want to take advantage of the $.55/1000lbs landing fees at DAL vs. the $4.94/1000lbs fees at DFW.

Unless these other hub and spoke carriers change their business models, that "some point in time" most likely won't be until the year 2014 or later, when the amendment is fully repealed.

Until then, these other airlines wanting to fly nonstop from Love Field to their hubs/focus cities -- think JFK, ATL, DEN -- will have to do so using regional jets -- something they could already be doing under the current restrictions.

If they're planning on offering mainline service to their hubs/focus cities, which are all outside the current perimeter, they'll have to make an additional stop in another Wright Amendment city first, before continuing on to their hub/focus city.

 

[jimntx]

Well, it begins. They announced on the 6PM news today here in Dallas that Collin County--where a lot of those Love Field passengers live--is exploring the possibility of expanding the Collin County Airport for commercial service "now that the Wright Amendment is being repealed."

A quote from a Collin County resident...
"Well, driving down the Tollway to Love Field is a lot quicker than driving to DFW, but it would be really great if I only had to drive 10 minutes to the airport."

If I'm not badly mistaken, the Wright Amendment restricts flights only at Love Field. Collin County's only problem will be to get some airline willing to fly in there. Destinations would not be restricted.

 

[eolesen]

Wright doesn't restrict it, but didn't the compromise agreement restrict AA and WN from serving airports other than DAL and DFW within a 60 mile radius of DAL, or was that provision dropped? That would include Collin County. If so, the lack of competition makes it sound like a perfect opportunity for Airtran or Jetblue.

Likewise, with all the growth up in Collin and Grayson Counties, I'd be surprised if there wasn't also an attempt to introduce some form of service into Sherman in the next 10 years.

 

[jimntx]

Wright doesn't restrict it, but didn't the compromise agreement restrict AA and WN from serving airports other than DAL and DFW within a 60 mile radius of DAL, or was that provision dropped? That would include Collin County. If so, the lack of competition makes it sound like a perfect opportunity for Airtran or Jetblue.

AFAIK, you are correct. A lot of the resistance to the compromise came from small to mid-size cities in the "general" DFW area because the agreement basically shut them out of any hope of commercial service in the foreseeable future.

JetBlue and Airtran were the first two airlines I thought of. Though, since Airtran serves DFW already, they may be blocked from offering service anywhere else in the area.

 

[LD3]

Now, since this law calls for demolishing all gates except 20 (with 16 going to SWA, 2 each to CO and AA), the courts are going to tell the City of Dallas that they have to make gates available.

Excuse me for my ignorance, but why is the change in the law requiring gates to be demolished? Or what good comes out of it....