On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines flew its first-ever direct flight from Dallas Love Field to a destination beyond one of seven nearby states. The Wright Amendment of 1979 had disallowed such flights, to protect the business of competing DFW airport and the American Airlines hub operation there. But two weeks ago, President Bush signed a decree lifting some restrictions of the amendment, and Southwest quickly created flight schedules to destinations such as St. Louis and Kansas City. In response, American Airlines announced the same day that it would cancel about 30 flights at DFW, and add 16 flights from Love Field to St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, and San Antonio.