Sen. Hutchison Chides JetBlue on Wright

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison criticized JetBlue Airways Corp. Friday for prompting other senators to raise roadblocks to her proposal to repeal the Wright amendment.

The Texas Republican said JetBlue was responsible for objections raised by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Ms. Hutchison said the New York-based carrier is opposing the North Texas compromise to lift Wright as leverage to get special favors in next year's legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration.

"It is very unfortunate," Ms. Hutchison said in an interview. "They are not part of this. They are not disadvantaged by it. And I am disappointed that they are encouraging people like Chuck Schumer to put a hold on the bill."

JetBlue officials declined to comment.

Mr. Schumer's aides did not respond to a request for comment. But earlier in the week, the senator acknowledged that he was working on behalf of other airlines in speaking against her bill.

"It left out some other airlines," Mr. Schumer said. "But we're trying to work something out so they get what they need, too."

The legislation implements the June 15 agreement among Dallas, Fort Worth, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co.

It would fully repeal the Wright amendment in eight years and provide for immediate one-stop flights to destinations beyond the existing nine-state perimeter. It also contains a 20-gate cap to limit growth at Love Field.

Also on Friday, congressional aides said they have a tentative agreement resolving all the differences between the House and Senate versions of the plan.

Aides said the deal puts them in a good position to see their bill go to the full House next week.

The final bill, according to House aides, will drop a 30-day period during which the FAA was supposed to certify that the plan would not jeopardize the safety of air operations over North Texas.

In the latest version, the airlines would be able to begin immediate one-stop flights beyond the Wright perimeter states while the FAA conducted its evaluation.

The compromise bill also includes new language that specifies that the bill would not affect other North Texas airports not owned by the cities of Dallas or Fort Worth.

Mr. Schumer was one of three senators who raised objections to the proposal this week.

Ms. Hutchison appeared to have satisfied Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., enough to keep him from blocking the plan. Mr. Rockefeller raised his objections Wednesday, when the bill was approved, 21-1 by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

But other opposition emerged Thursday from Mr. Schumer and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who is concerned about antitrust provisions in the proposal.

A spokesman for Mr. Leahy said the senator's staff was reviewing the bill on Friday.

Mr. Schumer is close with JetBlue. Sometimes quoted in the discount carrier's news releases, he attended a celebration Friday in Syracuse, N.Y., to announce a new JetBlue route to Orlando, Fla.

Ms. Hutchison criticized JetBlue for opposing the Wright plan as a way to gain favors on future legislation.

"It is wrong for JetBlue to do that," she said. "I do not like being put in that position."

Ms. Hutchison said she wants to put her bill on next week's Senate calendar in hopes of flushing out any other opposition.

If the bill is moving to the Senate floor, other senators would have to make their concerns known if they wanted to stop it.

She predicted that next week would be spent working through the concerns of other lawmakers.

Ms. Hutchison said she doubted the Senate would vote on the proposal next week, saying congressional approval would probably come when lawmakers return from their August recess.

"I am going to hope for the best, but I am not going to count on it," she said of the bill's chances for enactment next week.

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