Wright Amendment Repeal Could Mean 50% Lower Fares

May 27, 2005
Repealing the Wright Amendment could lead to lowering ticket prices by as much as 50 percent for travelers between North Texas and dozens of destinations.

Repealing the Wright Amendment could lead to lowering ticket prices by as much as 50 percent for travelers between North Texas and dozens of destinations, according to a recent study commissioned by Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Even if the latest repeal effort fails, fares could fall if more low-fare airlines start service at D/FW, the study indicates. "The D/FW market is ripe for low fares, and that's not dependent on the repeal of the Wright Amendment," said Christina Cassotis, study author and vice president of Simat, Helliesen & Eichner in Cambridge, Mass.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, is pledging an all-out fight to defeat the repeal proposal announced Thursday by two Dallas-area congressmen. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and Dallas Mayor Laura Miller want to resolve the Wright Amendment flap without congressional involvement.