Southwest and American Airlines Battle Over Wright Amendment

By Carol Kennedy

Published on September 28, 2005

The Wright Amendment restricts Southwest operations from Love Field to certain points beyond Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico and Mississippi. The law was designed to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

A spokesman for American Airlines, Tim Wagner, said that American's business at their Dallas-Fort Worth hub would be weakened by the opening of Love Field for long haul flights. Wagner stated that flights and connecting opportunities could be lost at Dallas-Fort Worth for passengers flying from El Paso.

Pat Abein, director of aviation at El Paso International Airport, stated that El Paso once had a large amount of Wright Amendment traffic, but this changed when Southwest cut 10 flights from El Paso in the mid-1990s.

Gary Kelly, the CEO of Southwest, in a written statement, said that the airline wants to serve Love Field because it is an efficient home base that fits the company perfectly.

Southwest has been lobbying Congress to have the Wright Amendment repealed.

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