When the real-world outcomes of a Wright repeal are considered from a rational perspective, this entire political gunfight resembles a pack of gourmet chefs fighting over a can of Spam.
The bottom line is that if (or, when) the amendment is repealed, the overall result will be a non-event.
Sorry, DFW International won't sink into a swamp. No, American Airlines won't commit competitive hara-kiri, torpedoing its global DFW hub by moving major operations to Love Field. And, sorry, consumers won't see the Metroplex skies blackened with new low-fare service
His independent analysis noted, among other things, that:
- Love has limited expansion potential.
- Airlines will not flock to Love if the Amendment is repealed.
- DFW, not Love, is the airport for the entire Metroplex.
- Southwest expansion would be relatively limited, adding nonstop service to perhaps a maximum of 10 to 12 new destinations from Love Field.
- American's threat to split its hub doesn't make sense.
- Southwest may become less competitive going forward.
He concluded by noting
Love is becoming an increasingly marginalized access point to the region. A Wright repeal would tend to tie Southwest even more firmly to Love. Carriers at DFW access the entire 5.5 million population of the Metroplex. Love is convenient to only about half that, and it's the half that isn't growing rapidly.
Based on that, American might want to consider a change in strategy and actually encourage a Wright repeal. First, it would tend to more firmly lock Southwest into Love. Second, it would represent less of a competitive threat than did the now-gone Delta/DFW hub. Third, it would be a whole lot less damaging than the suggestion that Southwest move all operations to DFW.
Around the same time, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson came out in support of DFW Airport's position to keep the Wright amendment in place, saying she would help sponsor legislation to close Dallas Love Field to commercial traffic if the Wright amendment is repealed.
Love Field and Southwest Airlines - Dallas' fifth largest taxpayer - is in Ms. Johnson's district. In announcing her position, she cited the potential harm to minority contractors at D/FW if the Wright Amendment were to be repealed. D/FW officials worry that Love Field will syphon traffic away from D/FW, which would hurt concessioners.
She claimed she
objected to Southwest Airlines' high-dollar campaign calling for the repeal of the amendment.
"Southwest is appearing to be the victim, but they are really the beneficiaries," she said. Asked why she thought Southwest was being so aggressive in its campaign, Bernice Johnson replied, "I have no idea, except they're the most profitable airline and they want to rule the world."
Sam Johnson issued a press release hammerig Eddie Bernice Johnson's efforts to close Dallas Love Field to commercial traffic.
"Talk about a dumb idea! How can someone who represents Dallas Love Field support legislation to shut it down? That is reckless and wrong. In Congress, we take an oath to protect and serve the people, not hurt them."
"It's one thing to support the Wright Amendment. It's another thing to support shutting down your home-district airport. What about the people who work at Dallas Love? What about the people who travel from Dallas Love? What about the companies that operate out of Dallas Love? Her decision smacks of heavy-handed government at its absolute worst,"
"Eddie Bernice incorrectly alleges that repealing the Wright Amendment may take away jobs at Dallas Fort Worth Airport. Last time I checked, she represents Dallas Love Field, Shouldn't she be more concerned about keeping and creating jobs in her own district?"
He suggested her constituents make their voices heard by calling her and telling her how they felt about her desire to protect jobs somewhere else at their expense,"
Meanwhile, the editorials continued. The National Review noted that
Policymakers claim to be concerned with creating stability in the airline industry and fostering the most favorable climate possible for passengers, yet much of the turbulence in commercial aviation is actually caused by federal interference. As the number of airline passengers continues to grow and the fortunes of the industry continue to sag, Congress needs to take a careful look at these and other ways to re-deregulate the airlines.
On October 18, employees of Southwest Airlines delivered packets containing petitions from more than 250,000 Texans who want the Wright Amendment repealed, on to Texas Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and the entire Texas congressional district.
Southwest President Colleen Barrett said,
"Southwest Airlines wants to show our Texas leaders that there is support throughout Texas to repeal the Wright Amendment, The economic prosperity of the entire state should be their first priority, not just the concerns of one airport."
In addition to the petitions, Barrett said, more than 20,000 Texans have written letters to Congress asking for the amendment to be repealed.
"Texas has spoken, We decided it was time to send a message to the two Texas senators that this is what Texas voters want."
She also hinted at Southwest possibly moving it's headquarters in the future if the Wright Amendment remained in place. noting that with Southwest growing fast nationwide, it was becoming increasingly difficult to operate its corporate headquarters from Dallas, given the restrictions at Love,
"There could be a time, if we continue to have a modicum of success, that it would be a bit odd for us to have our headquarters at one of the smallest posts in our system."
Southwest also announced that co-founder and Chairman Herb Kelleher would testify before Congress on the issue possibly as early as November.
American Airlines, quickly condemned Southwest's actions, dubbing the petition drive a "PR stunt" and ridiculing the number of signatures the airline collected.
American's executive vice president of marketing, Dan Garton noted, "It's 1 percent of the Texas population, The number just doesn't seem that big, given the resources Southwest put into getting these signatures."
Things began to deteriorate between American and Southwest in the local media. The Ft. Worth StarTelegram
reported
American executives released a report from a paid consultant critical of a Wright Amendment study that had been commissioned by Southwest earlier this year.
Southwest executives accused American officials of bullying small cities by threatening to eliminate service if the Wright Amendment is lifted.
They also declared that American is their "primary rival" in the battle and that other pro-Wright groups like Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and the North Texas Commission are acting as proxies for the airline, which is the world's largest carrier.
"American is using its size and its power to intimidate and threaten," said Ron Ricks, Southwest's senior vice president for law, airports and public affairs. He added that an advertising campaign sponsored by D/FW Airport, which invites Southwest to begin long-haul service at that airport, is "completely disingenuous."
"D/FW has been doing everything it can for years to block Southwest's success," he said, by challenging the airline's bids to fly longer flights from Love Field.
Things were getting juicy.
