International Business Article
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
