Re: Southwest seeing how the wind blows

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A thought-experiment view of this would be 'what if UA/AA/etc built
their own 30 or 40 gate airport in <pick your market>'. Is that a bad
thing?

And haven't the bonds for DFW construction been paid off for at least
fifteen years now?

On Nov 16, 2004, at 17:01, Allan9 wrote:

> Dave the one point you may be missing was when DFW was built the Wright
> Ammendment was put in place to force all the airlines to go to DFW.
> The
> locals (politicians) had to pay their share of the matching funds in
> order
> to pay for the airports' construction. They felt if one (major) carrier
> refused to go to DFW then others would follow suit and the airport
> would not
> be finiancially feasible.
> So along came the Wright Ammendment basically forcing them to do it.
> We
> tend to forget that when the concept was created Dallas Air Carrier
> traffic
> was no where near what it is today.  Denver took the same approach
> after
> seeing what Dallas did.
> Al
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David MR" <damiross3@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "The Airline List" <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Allan9"
> <exatc@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 6:03 PM
> Subject: RE: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>
>
>> Al, Clay,
>>
>> DAL, by city regulation, is limited to 32 gates.  There are currently
>> 16
>> gates in use.
>>
>> Although DAL use to have 747 service (Braniff between DAL/HNL), I
>> don't
>> see
>> DAL getting very large aircraft.  I see more narrow bodies operating
>> frequent flights to business destinations such as NYC, LA, SF, and
>> Chicago.
>> This is in addition to the current short-haul flights to neighboring
>> states
>> and within the state of Texas.
>>
>> I think the Wright Amendment was wrong from day 1.  There's no reason
>> why
>> a
>> large metropolitan area should not have 2 (or more) airports with
>> airline
>> operations.  On a similar subject, it was wrong for Denver to close
>> Stapleton when International opened.  The former would be more
>> convenient
>> for short haul flights while the latter could do the long haul.  After
>> all,
>> does it make sense to take a 1 or 1.5 hour flight only to have
>> another 1
>> or
>> so to get to your destination after the flight arrives?
>>
>> David
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airlinediscussion/ - an alternative to
>> the
>> Airline List at CUNY -  a list where the moderator actually moderates
>> and
>> it
>> is okay to have differing opinions without being subjected to
>> moderation
>> by
>> a moderator who doesn't moderate his own list
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
>> Allan9
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 12:37
>> To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>>
>>
>> To strt with I am in favor of repealing the Wright restrictions.
>> However,
>> questions I have is what is the additional markets they could serve.
>> The
>> longest runway reportedly is 8800 feet.   I don't think there is
>> sufficient
>> distance between runway centerlines to allow simultaneous ILS
>> approaches.
>> The traffic flows would appear to conflict with the appraoches into
>> DFW.
>> I've seen what can happen and the resultant restrictions (ORD/MDW).
>> There
>> are only about 30-32 gates atl DAL and over half are now in use.
>> Reportedly
>> there is no room for expansion of the terminal or runways.  So as I
>> see it
>> you probably could add about 15 flights per hour (maybe).  Just for
>> the
>> sake
>> of discussion.  TDo a Google search on Dallas Love Master Plan.  I
>> did a
>> quick scan of it.
>>
>> Al
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Clay Wardlow" <clay.wardlow@xxxxxxxx>
>> To: "Allan9" <exatc@xxxxxxxxxx>; "The Airline List"
>> <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 12:42 PM
>> Subject: RE: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>>
>>
>> Al,
>>
>> Yes, sorry. DMN = Dallas Morning News, it's the only Dallas newspaper.
>>
>> There were quite a few people leaving comments on the "What do you
>> think" section. I'd say 99% of them were infavor or repealing the
>> Wright
>> amendment.
>>
>> I whole-heartedly agree. However, I would like to understand the other
>> side. Does DFW really believe that Love poses a threat? Can
>> 30-something
>> gates really treaten 141+ gates?
>>
>> DFW is usually around the 3-busiest airport in the world. How is
>> letting
>> little ol' Love out of the Write amendment really going to hurt DFW?
>>
>> Clay - formerly of DFW
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Allan9 [mailto:exatc@xxxxxxxxxx]
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 9:19 AM
>> To: The Airline List; Clay Wardlow
>> Subject: Re: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>>
>> Clay
>> Pardon my dumb question but what is DMN?
>> Dallas Morning News?
>> Al
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Clay Wardlow" <clay.wardlow@xxxxxxxx>
>> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 11:51 AM
>> Subject: Re: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>>
>>
>> I've been reading the comments by people left on the DMN. Everyone
>> seems
>> very passionate about repealing the Write amendment.
>>
>>
>>
>> Is there any reason to keep it?
>>
>>
>>
>> Clay - SEA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Clay Wardlow
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 8:44 AM
>> To: Airline List
>> Subject: Southwest seeing how the wind blows
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/
>> 111604dnbussouth
>> west.67342.html
>>
>>
>>
>> Southwest Airlines Co. signaled Monday that it intends to watch the
>> political reaction to its newfound opposition to flight restrictions
>> at
>> Dallas Love Field before mounting any campaign to remove them.
>>
>> The Dallas-based discounter wants to hear from a variety of
>> constituencies interested in repealing the Wright amendment, the
>> federal
>> law that limits flights from the airport to Texas and nearby states.
>>
>> "We are waiting to hear how people respond," said Ron Ricks, senior
>> vice
>> president for law, airports and public policy at Southwest, in an
>> interview at the carrier's headquarters at Love Field.
>>
>> On Friday, Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly sent up an unexpected
>> flare in a battle that began decades ago but has been dormant until
>> the
>> last few months. In a speech before area executives, he denounced the
>> 1979 statute as "anti-competitive."
>>
>> So far, Mr. Kelly's comments have drawn negative reactions from
>> officials at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, American
>> Airlines
>> Inc., and city halls in Dallas and Fort Worth.
>>
>> All cited concerns that opening Love Field to long-haul flights would
>> pose a critical challenge to the health of D/FW, an economic engine to
>> North Texas.
>>
>> But several prominent area lawmakers have welcomed a renewed
>> discussion
>> of the Wright amendment.
>>
>> Mr. Ricks said he has received supportive calls from the offices of
>> three lawmakers, including Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. He declined to
>> name the other two but said one is from Texas.
>>
>> Many area travelers have also voiced their opposition to the
>> restrictions that allow airlines to fly non-stop from Love Field only
>> within an area that includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New
>> Mexico, Kansas, Alabama and Mississippi.
>>
>> Mr. Ricks said Southwest officials reconsidered their neutral position
>> on the Wright amendment after rival Delta Air Lines Inc. said in
>> September it was pulling its hub at D/FW. That left Southwest with
>> three
>> choices:
>>
>> * Do nothing, and watch somebody else fill the vacuum.
>>
>> * Pick up the slack at D/FW.
>>
>> * Expand at Love Field.
>>
>> "We don't want to do nothing," Mr. Ricks said. "That's not Southwest's
>> M.O."
>>
>> After careful consideration Southwest ruled out going to D/FW, because
>> it knew that airport's biggest tenant, American, would pull out all
>> the
>> stops to protect its home turf, Mr. Ricks said.
>>
>> What's more, he said, moving flights to D/FW would cannibalize the
>> airline's successful Love Field operation.
>>
>> It made more sense to bolster Love, which suffered more than most
>> airports from the September 2001 terrorist attacks because it relies
>> entirely on shorter flights, many of which can be replaced by car
>> trips,
>> he said.
>>
>> An unrestricted Love Field would also be good for Dallas, Mr. Ricks
>> said, because more long-haul flights could bolster the city's economy
>> and convention business.
>>
>> He also noted several times that Southwest is the fifth-biggest
>> taxpayer
>> in the city of Dallas because it pays property taxes on its entire
>> fleet
>> of Boeing jets.
>>
>> "If business is down at Love Field, business is down in Dallas," Mr.
>> Ricks said.
>>
>> The Texas congressional delegation, which is likely to play a central
>> role in any Wright repeal effort, had a mixed reaction last week to
>> Mr.
>> Kelly's remarks.
>>
>> Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas,
>> said they were willing to consider the matter. Rep. Joe Barton,
>> R-Ennis,
>> said he opposes it. Republican Sen. John Cornyn said he needs more
>> time
>> to think about it.
>>
>> Support from out-of-state lawmakers could also prove key if Midwestern
>> and Southern states, driven by a desire for more low-fare Southwest
>> flights, fight hard for them in Congress.
>>
>> Even as he reiterated that the airline didn't have a campaign planned,
>> Mr. Ricks rattled off reasons a repeal made sense and wouldn't hurt
>> D/FW.
>>
>> Topping the list was a city master plan that restricts to 32 the
>> number
>> of gates that airlines can operate at Love Field. Today, only 16 are
>> in
>> operation. D/FW has 138 gates.
>>
>> Love Field "will never grow to a point where it will threaten D/FW
>> Airport," Mr. Ricks said.
>>
>> But that argument didn't fly with D/FW or Fort Worth-based American.
>>
>> "We think the Wright amendment has helped ensure the success of D/FW,
>> and we believe it's still relevant today," said Tim Wagner, an
>> American
>> spokesman.
>>
>> D/FW worries that repealing the Wright amendment would bring a repeat
>> of
>> 2000, when American and Delta added new service at Love Field to
>> compete
>> against Legend Airlines.
>>
>> "We earnestly believe, and history has shown, that many other airlines
>> would try to get in to compete head-to-head with Southwest at a
>> close-in
>> airport," said Kevin Cox, D/FW's chief operating officer.
>>
>> If Love Field grew to its limit, D/FW estimates, the city airport
>> could
>> attract millions of passengers who would otherwise use the nation's
>> third-busiest airport.
>>
>> "Southwest is doing this to protect its monopolistic control over Love
>> Field and not bring in added competition to the Dallas-Fort Worth
>> marketplace," Mr. Cox said.
>>
>> He called the airline's approach "caustic and divisive."
>>
>> Southwest had its own criticisms.
>>
>> The city of Fort Worth, which avows loyalty to D/FW, has, over the
>> years, asked Southwest to add service at Fort Worth Meacham Airport,
>> and
>> the cargo hub, Alliance Airport, Mr. Ricks said.
>>
>> "They said quite specifically Meacham Field is not subject to the
>> Wright
>> amendment, you can fly from Meacham," Mr. Ricks said. "What I find
>> ironic is that when we talk about flying out of Love Field they say we
>> are going to hurt D/FW."
>>
>> Fort Worth City Manager Charles Boswell said his city has approached
>> Southwest about starting service from its airport, but he said he
>> doesn't recall any discussion about interstate flights or service from
>> Alliance.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Clay Wardlow | Technical Publications | ADIC <http://www.adic.com/>  |
>> Redmond, WA | 425-897-7448
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