American Backs New Pro-Wright Group
When it comes to the repeal of the Wright Amendment, American Airlines is hoping to convince North Texans to "Stop and Think."
That's the name of a new organization, funded by American, that today will kick off the latest salvo in the battle over Dallas Love Field airport. The group is launching a series of television and print advertisements and a Web site, all arguing against changing the amendment.
The organization, based in the Snyder Plaza retail center on Rosedale Avenue in Dallas, will announce the details of its campaign at a news conference today. David Cush, American's vice president and general sales manager, is scheduled to appear.
Pat White, co-chairwoman of the Love Field Citizens Action Committee, said she welcomed another group on her side.
"Anyone who is against repealing the Wright Amendment is an ally," she said. "There's plenty of work to go around."
White said her organization, which has worked for years to protect the amendment, is not directly involved with Stop and Think.
But it appears at least some North Texas heavy hitters are. The group's Internet domain was registered by Scott Howell & Co., a Dallas political media firm that worked on President Bush's re-election effort and has created ads for GOP Senate candidates Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Jim Talent of Missouri and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.
The campaign comes as the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas prepare to meet to broker a compromise on the Wright issue. Those meetings, which haven't yet been scheduled, must end by June 14, a deadline set by the Dallas City Council.
The amendment, a 1979 federal law, limits commercial air service from Love to Texas and adjacent states.
It was later amended to include Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi and, late last year, Missouri.
In 2004, Southwest Airlines, which operates from Love, began lobbying Congress to repeal the measure, calling it outdated and anti-consumer.
Fort Worth-based American, which operates a hub at nearby Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, has fought to keep the amendment.
Groups representing neighborhoods around Love Field have also worked to support the amendment, fearing that more service at Love could mean more noise and traffic. And Dallas/Fort Worth Airport officials have argued that opening up Love could cost the larger airport hundreds of flights and damage its finances.
Southwest has run ads for more than a year urging area residents to get behind the repeal effort, arguing that airline fares will drop because of competition between the airports.
D/FW Airport's own ads urge Southwest to move to the larger airport.
Southwest refuses to fly from D/FW, arguing that the airport doesn't fit its business model because of its status as a major hub.
A Southwest spokesman said Monday that American was "late to the game" of Wright Amendment advertising.
"I understand that it's a challenge for them," said Ed Stewart, a spokesman. "What's their message, that they support higher fares?"
An American spokesman declined to comment on the latest effort Monday. "We're not authorized to divulge anything right now," said Tim Smith, a spokesman.
American is making no secret of its close ties to the group, however. Its Internet site -- www.stop-and-think.org -- prominently notes that the organization is "in cooperation with American Airlines."
A message on the site Monday evening said it would be officially launched at 2 p.m. today.
The two airlines had been scheduled for a debate this week in Nebraska, before the board of Omaha's Eppley Airport. But American canceled because of the pending local talks, said spokesman Dave Jackson.
Southwest then also canceled. "What are we going to do, debate ourselves?" Stewart said.
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