Wright Amendment Set to Fade Away

SURPRISE! After an inordinate amount of wrangling legislation to repeal the Wright Amendment has been approved by Congress and sent on to President Bush. Even last week it appeared this legislation was doomed due to a lot of unnecessary language aimed at insulating American Airlines and Southwest Airlines from anti-trust worries. That language was struck in favor of some much more vanilla statements in order to get the bill moving.
In an ending fitting of the whole process the Wright Amendment will not go out in a blaze of glory, no no no, that would be too simple. Instead, for the next 8 years flights to and from Dallas Love Field will still be restricted as follows:

...Southwest would immediately be able to sell through tickets for Dallas flights to and from any other cities it serves, as long as those flights stop at another Texas airport or airports in eight other states covered by the Wright law: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Missouri.

Asinine compromise in my opinion, what a bunch of monkey motion. But proof that big business swings a mighty big hammer at our capital. Sure, its smart business for American Airlines to try and delay anything that would benefit a competitor but how did Congress get talked into 8 years? Ah well what's done is done and hopefully President Bush will sign this quickly so that the countdown can begin.

Will Wright Ever be Right?

What started as a worthwhile effort to kill off a piece legislation that is no longer needed has turned into its own legislative nightmare. The bill introduced to kill off the Wright Amendment has itself become an abyss attempting to suck the whole effort down with it. The Dallas Morning News dropped an article on it today...its a good review and I don't feel the need to regurgitate it...too depressing.

Anyone with an ounce of logic can see the reasons that spawned the Wright Amendment have long since passed. Dallas/Fort Worth airport (DFW) needs protection from competition like a Navy Seal needs a body guard. Opening Love Field to more routes is good for business and the consumer. Note to Congress: Step back, take a deep breath and get this done. Get the wording right and make it work already. Too much time has been wasted with political jousting on this one.

NEWS: This Just In...American Airlines in Love!

American Airlines has issued a brief statement indicating that they will be begin the process to apply for service out of Love Field in Dallas. The press release simply states the move was prompted by the recent passage of a bill that exempts Missouri from the restrictions of the Wright Amendment. Notably absent from the release was the marketing spin pomp and circumstance that normally accompany an airline starting service at a new, or in this case...old, location.
UPDATE 1: They better get it done fast...Southwest is expanding again at Love Field. Run Forest run!

UPDATE 2: Quote from Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart, "It's one of the most ridiculous business moves I've ever seen,". Click Read More! for additional comments

RRRRRRiiiiggghhtt. Next Southwest will be saying "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"...or waving their hand in Jedi fashion "This is not the airport you seek". Come on Southwest. I mean seriously did you expect them to just walk away from Love Field at this point?

But check out American spokesman Tim Wagner as he steps up to the plate with this hum-dinger, "We agree that it's a bad choice, but we think we're making the best of two bad choices: To abdicate those passengers to other airlines or to compete for those passengers at Love Field"

Sit down...this is just getting good.

Folks, adding the state of Missouri back into the Love Field equation is not what's at the heart of the matter for American. In a larger sense its tacit acknowledgement from American Airlines that they believe the Wright Amendment is going to suffer a slow piece by piece death over some extended time frame. I think you will continue to see exemptions work their way through Congress until the Wright Amendment is effectively legislated out of existence. American recognizes they'd better get their foot back in the door before every other low fare carrier in the nation tries to get with the Love too. But that's just my opinion...what do I know...I never thought United would make it out of bankruptcy...oh wait...they haven't yet...but they say they will soon.

Good article here.

NEWS: Southwest Adds Missouri to its Love Field Repertoire

The ink is barely dry on a bill freeing up airlines to fly to Missouri from Love Field in Dallas and Southwest is all over it. Southwest has announced new service to both St. Louis and Kansas City starting Dec 13th. While the good folks of these two cities will surely welcome the low fare competition American Airlines is taking a double hit. American picked up market share in St. Louis and Kansas City when they absorbed TWA and have enjoyed a competitive advantage there. Now Southwest is set to pilfer that business from both ends...the other end being Dallas. On a final note...I just used the word "repertoire" in a post...kick ass!