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Wright Amendment Guide
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CBS 11 News
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AP
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CBS 11 News
The Wright Amendment, a federal law passed in 1979, was intended to protect Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which was opened in 1974. The law restricted passenger air traffic out of Dallas's Love Field Airport.
The law originally limited traffic from Love Field to points within Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. In 1997, the law was modified to allow flights to the states of Alabama, Kansas and Mississippi. Missouri was also added to the flight schedule in 2005. In May 2006, Nebraska introduced a bill that would also exclude it from Wright restrictions, should the bill be passed into law.
When DFW opened in 1974, every airline except Southwest Airlines moved from Love Field to the new larger airport. Southwest, however, decided to stay at Love Field with a drastic reduction in flights.
Southwest felt that their business model would be affected by the long commute from the suburbs to the new airport. Southwest, founded in 1971 and headquartered at Love Field, became a successful business by selling quick trips between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
Southwest made plans to start providing interstate service from Love Field after the deregulation of the U.S. airline industry in 1978. The plans angered the City of Fort Worth and DFW International Airport. In an attempt to help protect DFW, Jim Wright, a Fort Worth congressman, sponsored and helped pass an amendment to an unrelated law in Congress which restricted air traffic from Love Field.
Originally, Southwest publicly took a neutral stand on the Wright Amendment. In November 2004, this changed when they called it anti-competitive and outdated, and announced they actively opposed the amendment.
REPEAL EFFORTS:
Southwest Airlines announced in late 2004 its opposition to the Wright Amendment.
The company began to assemble public support for the repeal of the amendment by launching a massive public relations campaign. All media outlets were used directing the viewer or reader to visit the "Set Love Free" website, which was created by Southwest Airlines. A group consisting of the DFW Airport Board and American Airlines opposed the repeal of the amendment and began its own campaign called "Keep DFW Strong."
Critics of the amendment believe the restrictions on long-haul travel from Dallas Love Field are anti-competitive. They want the freedom to fly anywhere they wish. They also believe that eliminating the amendment, and allowing any airline to fly long-haul service out of Love Field, would make the "Southwest Effect" happen, where new, inexpensive capacity will increase traffic at both airports. Wright opponents also think that DFW's main occupant, American Airlines, can make people pay high prices at DFW because there is little competition on most routes because American Airlines controls about 80% of the traffic going through the airport.
Supporters of the amendment say that DFW Airport is the cash-cow of the DFW area, and do not want a competitive airport to take traffic and lower prices from the airport. They do assert that American's fares are higher that other airports, but American insists they are just charging a market rate. DFW Airport recently completed construction of a $2.5-billion people mover system to transport passengers between terminal buildings. DFW Airport is concerned that the financial burdens caused by the people mover project will impede airport profits if there is a direct competitor. A main concern of people in the DFW area is that American, who is the largest employer in the North Texas area, are reluctant to put any jobs at risk, specifically when considering the financial difficulties that modern airlines face.
PREVIOUS WRIGHT AMENDMENT STORIES:
U.S. Justice Dept. Says Wright Deal Would Be Illegal
Love Field Closer to Missouri Flights
Southwest To Fly To Missouri
Southwest Starts Dallas-Missouri Service
Dallas-Based Southwest Moving To Arizona?
American Airlines Back At Dallas Love Field
Fight Over Wright Amendment Heats Up
Congressmen Oppose Wright Amendment Delay
A New Twist In Wright Amendment Battle
Wright Fight Flies To TV Ads
Group Says Noise Is Reason To Keep 'Wright'
Battle To Repeal Wright Amendment Is Back On
Wright Amendment Debate Deadline Expires
Dallas & Fort Worth Working On Wright Amendment
City Leaders Work On Local Wright Amendment Deal
Wright Amendment Plan Details Revealed
Mayors, Airlines Announce Wright Amendment Deal
Love Field Neighbors React To Wright Deal
Will 'Wright Deal' Mean Lower Airfares?
'Wright Deal' Will Impact Fort Worth Airports
Wright Amendment Backers Tackle Capitol Hill
Northwest, JetBlue Oppose Wright Compromise
Wright Amendment Deal Approved By City Of Dallas
DFW Airport Formally Approves Wright Deal
N. Texas Governments Fuel Wright Opposition
Lawmakers Say Local Deal Trumps Wright Amendment
Wright Agreement Moving Forward In Washington
Wright Amendment Agreement Moves Forward
Wright Amendment Deal Hits Roadblock
Does Wright Agreement Break Antitrust Laws?
Rep. Hastert Predicts Passage Of Wright Agreement
Consumer Groups Want Wright Compromise Rejected
DFW Airport Enlists Help In Wright Amendment Fight
Antitrust Immunity Stripped From Wright Agreement
Antitrust Wording Removed From Wright Bill
DFW Leaders Pushing For Wright Compromise
Congress Passes Wright Amendment Compromise
Experts Predict Lower Fares With Wright Appeal
Jim Wright Works To Repeal Own Amendment
Wright Compromise Bill Signed Into Law
FAA Approves Law Repealing Wright Amendment
Southwest Expands Routes From Love Field
American Airlines Cuts Fares At DFW
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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