Cease-Fire Called on Wright For Now to Devise Local Solution

American also maintains that the Wright Amendment, passed by Congress in the 1970s to protect the then-new D/FW from competition at Love, was a deal that should be honored.

The Wright Amendment limits flights at Love to within Texas and nearby states, and several states want to eliminate it to increase competition and lower fares at D/FW and Love.

Some Fort Worth council members are less inclined to discuss compromises.

One, Becky Haskin, said she's not sure she'll agree to a resolution asking Congress for more time, because she needs to see the details. She said she doesn't trust Dallas anymore.

"They'd have to sign in blood first, and we might take their first-born child while we're at it," she said. "It's a huge trust issue when you're going for your third compromise. Give me a break."

Several options have emerged as possible solutions. They include:

A time frame for a gradual phaseout of the Wright Amendment.

A cap on potential growth at Love Field.

A regional airport authority that would own D/FW and Love.

Allowing connecting or one-stop direct ticketing, but not nonstops, from Love to long-haul destinations.

"I don't have a druther right now," Fort Worth Councilman Jungus Jordan said. "I think we need to be objective in the approach as we work it out and legitimately try to work out a consensus that works best for the region."

The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, which has supported Southwest Airlines in its attempt to repeal the Wright Amendment, said forming a regional authority could be long and complicated.

"In particular, the role of [Fort Worth] Alliance Airport plus the involvement of municipal airports in Addison, McKinney and Denton will all need to be included," spokesman Corey Hill said.

Fort Worth Star Telegram

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