Texas business
leaders and DFW airport comment on Southwest petition drive |
Business leaders in north Texas and the Dallas/Fort
Worth International Airport have made a comment on Southwest Airlines'
petition drive regarding the Wright Amendment.The business leaders
and airport said that Southwest Airlines claims that its view
regarding the Wright Amendment is based on wanting low fares and
more competition for north Texas. Both are however already present
at DFW International Airport, including service from seven low-fare
carriers.
The statement says that what Southwest really wants is to maintain
its 97% passenger monopoly at Dallas Love Field and avoid competition.Jeff
Wentworth, board chairman for Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport, said that Southwest Airlines recently attempted to move
its operations from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Boeing
Field, a smaller facility closer to the city, and that the move
was rejected, with leaders citing "litigation, increased
noise and increased traffic" as the reasons behind the decision.
According to Wentworth, the airline's CEO Gary Kelly then said
he would abide by the ruling and do what is best for the community.
The chairman pointed out that the Wright Amendment was the compromise
that Southwest and the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth agreed
to years ago to resolve the issue of commercial air service in
north Texas and asked the Southwest CEO to respect that.Kevin
Cox, the chief operating officer at DFW, said that the airport
has carried out a formal survey that concluded 85% of passengers
who have an opinion on the Wright Amendment want Southwest Airlines
to offer flights at DFW, something it could do tomorrow without
an act of Congress.
|
