local airline stuff
This week has been slow for blogging content. At least for me, too many personal things going on that either I can’t blog about or they are just not that interesting. In the mean time, I am planning a trip to see a friend in Missouri – Dixon, Missouri… where long, permed hair is still all the rage. The final leg of my journey will be on one of those little puddle jumper planes, and I have never flown on one of those before. I emailed a pilot friend about it and he replied that the plane was a safe one, but not really that nice.
Speaking of flying out of Dallas, how funny it is that American Airlines has to pay for a study that says that if the Wright Amendment is lifted it will be a bad thing for DFW. How can it be bad for Dallas/Ft. Worth if it has served its purpose, which was to allow DFW to grow and become the major international airport that it is? This has been done, and the time has come to do away with the Wright Amendment and allow Southwest Airlines to give AA some real competition. I would have liked to have chosen another carrier this time but that wasn’t an option. I am hoping that by the next time I fly some where I will have a better selection of airlines, and fares, to choose from.
The Wright Amendment is one of the most blatant examples of protectionism I’ve ever seen.
Our elected politican leaders have effectively “pimped us out” to American Airlines. Thank Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for our inability to get rid of this dinosaur of a law.
For me, the question here is about fair competition. Every other airline accepted the small airport restictions at Love (restrictions that most two airport cities have), and moved to DFW when they outgrew Love. But Southwest seems to think they are entitled to having the rules changed just for them. If we want truly EVEN and FAIR competition, then Southwest should move to DFW and compete head-to-head on the same playing field as other airlines.
Southwest has explained their position time and again (see original link provided, especially the part where they respond to the latest “survey”) and I am with them. Are there any other airports in the United States that have this restriction? No, there are not. The “rules” were changed originally to grow DFW, and even though I was too young to know what was going on back then, I would be willing to bet that AA had a hand in all that too. Other cities with two or more airports have no restrictions – why should this be different for Love Field? Why should they have restrictions when nobody else does? The playing field is not level, and this needs to be rectified. Chances are if Southwest left Love Field then there would be no more Love Field. Is that the right thing? No. Dallas has been reduced to one newspaper, and if AA has their way, we will only have one airport as well. American Airlines = Air Nazis, and they need to be stopped.
Saying that American Airlines and Southwest need to be at the same airport to compete is just nonsense. Do WalMart and Costco need to be at the same shopping center to compete? No, of course not.
American Airlines needs to start spending less time trying to figure out how to get special favors from politicians and more time focused on its customers.
“Are there any other airports in the United States that have this restriction? No, there are not…..Other cities with two or more airports have no restrictions” -Amy
Actually this is incorrect. DC’s Reagan, Chicago’s Midway, and NYC’s Laguardia all have restrictions on how far outbound flights can go, and where inbound flights can come from just like Love Field does. You can’t fly to L.A. from DC’s Reagan, you have to go to Dulles airport etc. These kinds of restrictions are actually very common, and are put in place because it’s been found that cities benefit when they have one strong, major hub airport.
Tim – Please provide links to information for each of these airports as my research has turned up nothing that remotely compares to Love Field. The only thing I have seen had to do with Reagan and the types of aircraft that are allowed, but some of those restrictions have been lifted, but with new, strict guidelines.
Amy – I was not saying the regulations at other airports are as stringent as, or similar to the ones at Love. However, I do think it is important to keep things straight factually. The statemnet, “Other cities which have two airports have NO restrictions” is simply not true. As you just discovered, Reagan, for example, has “strict guidelines.” Two-city airports have a wide variety of guidelines, restrictions and policies in place to prevent the more urban airport from growing too much.
Then I guess I should have been more specific – no other airports have the flight restrictions that Love Field does. No other airport is confined to fly to neighboring states (since 1979), as well as three others (as of 1997). Pardon my assumption that since I was writing about flight restrictions it was implied that this was what I was refering to. The size of Love Field is already restricted by the Master Plan. As for having other restrictions, this is fine with me – just nothing that restricts the competition that Southwest will be able to finally bring to the Dallas area. Once the Wright Amendment is lifted, AA will piss and moan for a while, but I doubt anyone who has had to pay higher air fares because of their strong hold at DFW (and over the entire area for that matter) will feel that bad for them while they are flying out of Love for much less $$$.
Consider this factoid:
What are the only airports prohbited as final destinations when travelling from Washington Reagan Airport?
1) Any commercial airport located within the country of Cuba.
2) Dallas Love Field.
As a Dallas native who moved back 2 years ago, I am astounded at the continued provincial attitude of this city’s government. Dallas will never get out of the bush league and become an
A-list player as long as they continue this outlandish and outdated execution of policies. DFW is one of the worlds largest airports. Why does it require protection of the Wright Amendment? American Airlines fear of competition perhaps? It’s aburd that Southwest has been locked out of DFW for so long. The Wright Amendment needs to go. Maybe THEN we can also get JetBlue to enter this market.
Just saw some pretty damaging allegations regarding Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s extraordinary conflict of interest relating to the Wright Amendment.
It would seem that (via her husband) her family has been pocketing an amount that could easily be in the millions from the DFW Airport Board (for providing legal representation).
This creates an extremely serious conflict of interest, yet she is planning to actively fight repeal during a hearing scheduled for November 10.
See the Burnt Orange Report: http://www.burntorangereport.com/mt/archives/2005/11/emails_the_wrig.html
or read the allegations yourself: http://www.texasyojimbo.com/Hutchison_conflict.pdf
Southwest has been locked-out of DFW so long? American Fears competition? Where are u getting your info? Southwest has been offered millions of dollars in incentives (ie. free rent) to relocate flights to DFW. American would rather them fly from DFW than from DAL any day. The Wright amendmant is about supporting one airport for the entire community ie. Dallas AND Ft-Worth and not having individual airports competing against each other. Ft Worth closed their airport to commerical flights, as Love field should of done. But Southwest AGREED to the restrictions when they chose to stay at Love Field. When Denver built there new improved airport they bull dozed the runways at Stapleton airport to avoid future use. I think that’s what they should of done the same with Love Field.
After a little digging, I think it is safe to assume you are working for AA. I bet your dark lord and master is so happy to have one more of their employees distributing their propoganda… especially one that types “u” instead of “you”.
I cannot speak for KR, but I don’t know of any time Southwest has been locked out of DFW. They have been locked out of creating the serious competition that is desperately needed in the local airline industry though, and this needs to be changed.
You said “American would rather them fly from DFW than from DAL any day.” Yes, because this would be better for AA. Why wouldn’t they want the competition as close as they can get them? What is that saying… keep your friends close and your enemies closer? AA has a strong hold on DFW and that is not going to change anytime soon. Southwest would prefer not to have the AA vice grip around their jugular, which is what would happen if they went to DFW.
You said “The Wright amendmant is about supporting one airport for the entire community ie. Dallas AND Ft-Worth and not having individual airports competing against each other.” Wrong. The Wright Amendment was originally snuck in and tacked on to the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 following the airline deregulation that came with the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 opened up things at Love Field, and DFW tried to combat this at the federal level, but failed… which led them to call on Jim Wright, who tacked on the Wright Amendment to legislation that had nothing to do with domestic air travel, but was most likely going to pass, and it did.
Southwest never agreed to anything as they were not party to the original agreement stating that all the airlines at Love Field would pledge their undying devotion (not to mention relocating to) DFW.
There is only one right answer here – http://www.setlovefree.com – Dallas needs the stiff competition in airfares that Southwest will bring.
Dark Lord and Master? Watching a little too much Star Wars lately are we? Well, when you come back to reality, you’ll see that having two competing airports, 12 miles apart does not make alot of sense for the communities involved.
When you stop drinking that Southwest propaganda kool-aid, you’ll see that they have never been locked-out of creating serious competition. They have CHOSEN to stay at Love field and develop a monopoly that lacks any meaningful competion.
They could come to DFW anytime in the last 30 years, and have even recently been offered financial incentives to do so. They say they don’t like to move into other airline fortress hubs, but they have done just that many times in the past and most recently announcing there return to Denver airport. Yes, the one that bulldozed it’s runways at their old airport to avoid their use.
You say American has a stronghold at DFW, which you are correct. But this is because it is part of the national air-transportation system. Because it’s a hub, I would say less than 30% of their passengers begin or end their travels here. So we benefit with all the extra flights and destinations, without having to fill-up all the flights for the service to be viable.
Southwest could make a wonderful hub, right here at DFW. Without any changes in legislation. Without upsetting the communities that signed longstanding agreements. There is plenty of room for them, and there are plenty of other discount carriers right next door, who aren’t too chicken to play with the big boys.
By saying that Love Field and Southwest is the only answer is very self centered. DFW airport is the reason there are so many good jobs and businesses in the DFW area, and we should support it and keep it strong.
** http://www.keepdfwstrong.com ***
“Dark Lord and Master? Watching a little too much Star Wars lately are we? Well, when you come back to reality, you’ll see that having two competing airports, 12 miles apart does not make alot of sense for the communities involved.”
Oh, dear Lord… here we go again. Of course having two competing airports does not make sense… to you, other executives and employees of AA, and all those with a serious financial tie to DFW and AA. Competition makes perfect sense to everyone else. This has nothing to do with there being two airports, or the amount of distance between the two. It has everything to do with the serious competition that Southwest will be able to provide to the local market (and to the U.S. as a whole) with the Wright Amendment lifted, and do it as they always have been doing it – efficiently from their hub at Love Field.
“When you stop drinking that Southwest propaganda kool-aid, you’ll see that they have never been locked-out of creating serious competition. They have CHOSE to stay at Love field and develop a monopoly that lacks any meaningful competion.”
Obviously, you can’t read. I never said that Southwest has been locked out of DFW. In fact I stated that I did not know of a time that they had been. As much as your drivel is wearing thin, I really hate being misquoted. I believe Herb Kelleher feels the same way, as he made sure that it was on record, after AA tried to say that Southwest origianally agreed to the Wright Amendment, he read the full testimony into record (at the hearing last week) – “I guess the same way the Germans accepted the end of the first World War. In other words, with a gun to my head.”
“They could come to DFW anytime in the last 30 years, and have even recently been offered financial incentives to do so. They say they don’t like to move into other airline fortress hubs, but they have done just that many times in the past and most recently announcing there return to Denver airport.”
Just beacasue a company is offered financial incentives doesn’t mean that they should be accepted, or that they make the best business sense. Southwest makes money when their planes are in the air, not when they are sitting on the runway for 45-60 minutes, waiting for a gate to open up at DFW, like many AA flights do – and then let’s not forget the delays on take off, which I had the joy of experiencing recently. Whether it is coming or going, AA does not have things working smoothly at DFW. You will say that AA has a good record of being on time – and this because they figure in the sit-and-wait time to the schedule. A Southwest plane will already be in the air just as the AA plane is taking off. Southwest will go to airports where they can do business their way… which is far different from how AA does theirs.
“Yes, the one that bulldozed it’s runways at their old airport to avoid their use.”
I bet you dream of bull dozing Love Field while sleeping. I bet in your dreams you are driving the bulldozer yourself, all the while AA executives are looking on at their little minion, careful not to get their nice suits dirty.
“You say American has a stronghold at DFW, which you are correct. But this is because it is part of the national air-transportation system. Because it’s a hub, I would say less than 30% of their passengers begin or end their travels here. So we benefit with all the extra flights and destinations, without having to fill-up all the flights for the service to be viable.”
So if less than 30% of the passengers actually reside in Dallas, then take 60% of that (AA has stated that they would be losing this many because they are closer to Love Field) – that really wouldn’t be that many people since it is just a chunk of a small chunk. Or are those numbers (that conflict so nicely) just two separate smoke screens of deception and fear tactics that AA is spouting off, trying to scare the general public, because the reality of the situation is that people will go where they can get the best fare – DFW or Love Field.
“Southwest could make a wonderful hub, right here at DFW. Without any changes in legislation.”
Once again, nothing new from you just the same thing that I have already commented on, but you don’t refute – you just keep repeating the same old thing… like a parrot.
“Without upsetting the communities that signed longstanding agreements.”
Where are these “communities that signed longstanding agreements” that you speak of? The only agreement that I know of was the one back in 1968 between the airlines that were currently at Love Field and DFW. There are no “communities” that have “agreements” with anyone with regard to the Wright Amendment. There might be room at DFW, but that doesn’t mean that the discount carriers want to fly out of DFW. Word is that there are a number that have been looking to Love Field.
“There is plenty of room for them, and there are plenty of other discount carriers right next door, who aren’t too chicken to play with the big boys.”
Chicken? Now if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, I don’t know what is.
“By saying that Love Field and Southwest is the only answer is very self centered.”
Huh? Self centered? Who? “Love Field and Southwest” are not the answer – the answer is to lift the Wright Amendment, and Southwest just happens to be involved in the fight. This will affect all low cost carriers (not to mention travel in North Texas) for the better.
“DFW airport is the reason there are so many good jobs and businesses in the DFW area, and we should support it and keep it strong.”
Blah, blah, blah. Lifting of the Wright Amendment will be the one thing that will force AA to get their s*** together (finally) one way or another – with or without chapter 11. DFW is not the reason there are good jobs in the area – the Dallas area as a whole has a highly educated population, the tech industry is big here, housing prices are lower than in other parts of the country, and not to mention, Texas has no state income tax. As much as DFW would like to take credit for growth in the area, they are not the only reason – they are just one of many.