Dallas Mayor Rejects Option of Closing Love Field

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller on Wednesday rejected calls to close Dallas Love Field as a solution to the Wright amendment fight.

"That airport is here to stay, and we are going to make sure Southwest Airlines keeps its headquarters here while protecting the integrity of the surrounding neighborhoods," Ms. Miller said.

Southwest Airlines Co. has said it would consider moving its headquarters from Dallas if it doesn't get relief from the Wright law, which restricts most commercial flying at the airport to a nine-state perimeter.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc., which flies primarily from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, opposes any changes to the 1979 federal restrictions.

At their annual shareholder meetings, top executives for Southwest and American made statements demonstrating how far apart the two carriers are on the future of Love.

Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said that Dallas leaders are behind the airline's fight to repeal Wright and that they want to see lower fares by lifting limits at the city airport.

"I would be surprised if Dallas doesn't move forward to do something for consumers" on the Wright issue, Mr. Kelly told reporters.

"The only issue that is meaningful in this is the restrictions on competition at Love," he said, brushing aside noise and traffic concerns raised by a group funded by American and other local organizations.

Meanwhile, at the shareholder meeting of American parent AMR Corp., chairman and chief executive Gerard Arpey reiterated his company's position that consideration be given to shutting down Love.

"If we're going to discuss changing public policy, we just want the entire spectrum of options to be put on the table, and that includes closing Love Field as the cities intended," Mr. Arpey told reporters.

Mr. Arpey said Southwest's repeal campaign runs against the region's collective will set 40 years ago when the cities came together to build D/FW.

Ms. Miller and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief are continuing to discuss Wright.

"The reason Dallas and Fort Worth are deep in negotiations on the future of the Wright amendment is because we truly believe there is a solution out there that is a win-win for both cities and both big airlines," Ms. Miller said.

American and Southwest have been "helpful and open-minded" so far in the negotiating process, she said.

Mr. Arpey dismissed suggestions by some that American has been obstructing a deal. "We have been working with mayors and the cities every step of the way," he said.

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