Group Begins Wright Ads
A North Texas economic-development group is launching the latest wave of Wright Amendment advertising, even as the issue appears to have lost some momentum in Washington.
The North Texas Commission, a consortium of business and civic groups, is running newspaper ads urging Southwest Airlines to begin service at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The ad also points out that Southwest can fly to any destination from D/FW immediately, without changing federal law.
"The bottom line is that D/FW Airport is ready to accept Southwest Airlines flying out of there," said Dan Petty, the commission's president. "There are a lot of misperceptions out there on this."
The commission, which was founded in the early 1970s to foster growth and development at the airport, also released the results of a survey. The poll concluded that 65 percent of North Texas residents would like Southwest service at D/FW.
D/FW Airport has run similar ads and conducted a similar survey this summer.
Persuading Southwest to move is likely to be a tough sell. Airline executives have repeatedly said they have no interest in serving D/FW, citing that airport's congestion, traffic and competition from American Airlines.
"We're running out of different ways to say no," said Ed Stewart, a spokesman. "They have a better chance of walking on water than getting us to move to D/FW."
Petty declined to disclose the budget for the ad campaign, although he said it was "significant." It is being funded by several of the commission's partners and members, including American Airlines.
The amendment is a 1979 law that restricts flights at Dallas Love Field to cities in Texas and bordering states; Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama were added later.
Southwest, which in North Texas operates only from Love, has been campaigning to have the law repealed, calling it unfair and anti-consumer. Officials with D/FW and American Airlines oppose any change, arguing that it could damage the larger airport. Southwest has been running ads calling on residents to back a repeal. Gary Kelly, Southwest's chief executive, said Wednesday that a full repeal is unlikely this year.
"I don't sense that the first bill will be acted upon this year," Kelly told analysts in New York. "It's gaining support, but it seems to be on a longer track."
Kelly was more hopeful regarding a separate provision, tacked onto a Senate transportation bill by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., that would allow flights from Love to Missouri. That would open two large airports, St. Louis and Kansas City, to nonstop service from Love.
"That one may well be acted upon this year," Kelly said.
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.