Late June - 2006

Although the agreement had been met with support from many legislators, the few airlines involved, the city governments... and even most Texas lawmakers, there was still a lot of wrangling and back-and-forth wheelin' and dealin' going on in North Texas... and now, the halls of Congress. Many others did not support the plan saying 20 gates was too few and eight years was too long to wait.

Even as the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas, and top executives from American and Southwest lobbied Congress to win support on Capitol Hill for the compromise they crafted... some opposing voices were growing louder, as well.

Friends of Love Field's spokeperson Tony Page said,

"There's nothing in this for consumers, This doesn't repeal the Wright Amendment for eight years. A significant number of people in the metroplex will be dead by then."

Local representatives voiced concern that the increased service availability from Love Field would lead to more planes in the air... and a greater potential for something to go wrong.

And then there were other airlines... in particular, JetBlue and Northwest, who both came out in opposition of the Wright Agreement, arguing that the proposed deal is unfair to competing airlines and would keep new service locked out of Dallas Love Field.

JetBlue Airways called the agreement "an anti-competitive deal that was put together by two carriers in a backroom," and said the low-cost carrier is very interested in starting service from Love... but wouldn't be able to under the proposed deal.

It was an anti-competitive backroom deal put together by a few parties with no public input, but I wouldn't characterize it as having been put together by just the two carriers. Both mayors, DFW Airport and plenty of politicians were involved, too. The few city council members on the committee only got to attend one meeting and the rest of the time they were briefed by the two mayors.

Southwest never asked for a reduction in gates. That was what AA wanted, since their first choice -- closing Love Field - was not going to happen.

As recently as a week before the terms of this agreement were announced, Southwest was on record as saying they might be willing to give up some of the seven gates in the North Concourse that are currently unused in exchange for a faster phaseout period.

They're only now demanding a larger percentage of available gates because the overall number of available gates was reduced 37.5% from the original master plan.

The Dallas Morning News reported that JetBlue's founder David Neeleman said he had asked the FAA to block the local Wright amendment compromise or pull federal funding from Dallas Love Field.

JetBlue supported efforts by Southwest to repeal the Wright restrictions, Mr. Neeleman said, but the latest deal approved by the local parties was unfair,

"I don't think it's best for the traveling public going down to Dallas, We'll make our position known. I can't imagine that any lawmaker would approve that."

"You're destroying gates and denying access to airlines that would like to serve there," said Mr. Neeleman, who revealed JetBlue wants two gates at Love if the Wright restrictions were removed.

"Taxpayer money funds the airport, he said.

"I don't think the FAA should give their money to the airport. They should withdraw their support."

Lawmakers said FAA officials would be asked to testify at a July 12 hearing on the local agreement.

Northwest... which revealed it had considered starting indirect service at Love through regional operator, Pinnacle Airlines was unhappy with the number of total gates and Legend's terminal being torn down. Pinnacle had its eye on the old Legend terminal... but that deal fell through after Dallas Mayor Laura Miller decided she wanted to seize the property, and then destroy the terminal in order to reduce gate space at the airport which she felt would help control noise and traffic around the neighborhoods..

"The Wright Amendment compromise raises concerns in this area because of its restriction on access and because it allows some of Northwest's competitors to offer service that it would be prohibited from offering," Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said

It's possible more airlines would be joining the fray.

A similar article on the Dallas Morning News noted:

The trade association representing a handful of budget airlines, the Air Carrier Association, said it does not view the plan favorably and is weighing a decision about whether to oppose its enactment by Congress. "We are looking at it very closely," said Ed Faberman, executive director of the group that represents AirTran, Frontier, Spirit and Sun Country Airlines.

"We have some concerns over any proposal that basically says two airlines with the airports have reached an agreement on gates and flights at the airport and which markets can be served," he added.

There were certain aspects of the agreement that were questionable under current federal laws. International through-ticketing is just one aspect.

If the legislation is rewritten to specifically exclude international through-ticketing from DAL and Congress passes that legislation, that is the law of the land, while Hobby and Chicago Midway would still be able to provide that type of service.

Once congress passes the law it will be too late. That's probably why these other airlines are speaking up now -- before the legislature is rewritten.

Many of them had no input and weren't a part of the local agreement and they want to make sure their concerns are being considered, too -- going to Congress and the FAA.

They may have assumed that the local negotiating parties would have come up with a better plan. The agreement has now been proposed. If there are parts of it the other airlines don't like, it's time for them to speak now or forever hold their peace.

The Boys' Deal wasn't a done deal just yet.

Until Congress ruled on the issue and passed it into law, everyone's plans for Love Field were up in the air... but one thing was certain: as history has shown with all matters dealing with the Wright Amendment... this is not going to be an easy fight.

Tune - Rock Around The Clock

(Sung by NW and jetBlue - maybe others)

(Lyrics for Intro)

Fort Worth, Dallas
D - F - W
A A, Southwest,
Po-li-ti-cians, too!
Came up with a plan
(But they don't have a clue)
And so now - we're mad
What else is new?

(To get rid of Wright.)