Dallas -- Southwest Airlines can expand long-haul service from its Love Field base here under an agreement announced yesterday that involves Southwest, rival American Airlines, and the two largest cities in northern Texas.
The agreement appears to resolve a bitter, years-long dispute over the federal Wright Amendment, which restricts air passenger service at Love Field to the benefit of carriers at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where American is based.
The agreement was negotiated by the mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth along with the respective heads of American and Southwest airlines. The city councils of both cities must approve the agreement, as must Congress, before it can take effect, but that appears likely after yesterday's announcement.
"Considering all the possible options, we believe this to be a pragmatic solution," said American chairman Gerard Arpey.
The executive chairman of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher, said, "The only sure-fire winner from this agreement is the public, the public citizen who will find it easier and far less expensive to travel to and from North Texas."
The agreement lifts restrictions on long-haul service from Love Field--but after eight years, a concession to American Airlines. Federal law now limits commercial passenger service from Love Field to a nine-state region.
In addition, once the agreement is approved, Southwest can immediately begin issuing so-called through tickets, that is, one ticket for a long-haul flight but with the requirement that the passenger stop within the current nine-state area before flying to the final destination. Now, Southwest passengers must buy two tickets for long-haul trips in and out of Love Field and board twice, even if the second flight is on the same airplane.
The agreement also downsizes Love Field. Southwest Airlines which has fought to stay at the airport since the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport opened, in 1974, will receive 16 of 20 gates, with 12 other gates to be closed.