The move to repeal the Wright Amendment is gaining steam in the U.S. House with Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., a key subcommittee chairman, saying Thursday that he's ready to move on the legislation and indicating that he'd like to remove the restrictions at Dallas Love Field.
"At the right time, we'll take care of the Wright Amendment," Mica said. "The time is fast approaching."
Mica -- chairman of the House transportation and infrastructure subcommittee on aviation - said that he wants his panel to act on legislation introduced May 26 to repeal the law that limits service from Love Field to points in Texas and seven nearby states.
"There's no doubt it's an outdated provision," Mica said of the law, enacted in 1979 to protect Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Asked whether he would like to examine the law or repeal it, Mica answered, "both." A few minutes later, he returned and said, "I want to examine repeal."
The bill has been referred to Mica's subcommittee, but he did not say when the panel might act.
Jeff Fegan, chief executive at D/FW Airport, said he was surprised to hear that Congress might move quickly on the Wright Amendment.
"I'm not sure the hearings are imminent," Fegan said. "There's a huge agenda in front of the transportation committee. I've got to think this is one of the smaller issues."
The Right to Fly Act, introduced by GOP Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Sam Johnson of Plano, has gained 12 co-sponsors, including Texans Ron Paul, R-Surfside, and John Culberson, R-Houston.
"I have a very strong position on it," Paul said. "Repeal it. I think competition is good for the consumer."
Paul, a former presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, said that Hensarling and Johnson deserve credit for introducing the bill because "it splits Republicans."
Among the Republicans staunchly opposed to repeal are lawmakers who represent Tarrant County -- Republicans Joe Barton of Ennis, Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Michael Burgess of Flower Mound and Kenny Marchant of Coppell.
Barton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has made a strong commitment to preserve the Wright Amendment. Although the transportation panel would have primary jurisdiction over the issue, Barton has said he may invoke his committee's jurisdiction over interstate commerce if the issue heats up.
Southwest Airlines, which operates from Love Field and has said it doesn't want to fly out of D/FW Airport, ended its long-standing neutrality on the issue late last year and announced that it would lobby for repeal. It released a study this week saying that North Texas travelers could save up to $700 million on airfares if the law is repealed.
Southwest is "very optimistic with what's happening in the House," said spokesman Ed Stewart. Mica's support, he added, "would be very much wanted and needed."
Fort Worth-based American Airlines, which dominates passenger traffic at D/FW, stands by the amendment.
"We're still maintaining the same plan, communicating to lawmakers the history of the Wright Amendment and the implications of repeal to air service in the Metroplex," spokesman Tim Wagner said.
Fegan said he would welcome a chance to air D/FW's position. A study commissioned by the airport concluded that it could lose more than 200 flights and millions of passengers if the law is repealed.
"We believe -- if we were given a fair and unbiased hearing to people who haven't made up their mind -- the arguments would be compelling for keeping the Wright Amendment in its place," Fegan said.
"If you look at the history, the federal government demanded the two cities of Dallas and Fort Worth come together to serve both cities with one airport," he said. "The federal government has invested a lot of money in this airport, and the airlines have followed their lead."
