APA, APFA and TWU Issue Statement In Support Of The Wright
Amendment
The following statement was released Wednesday by union
leaders at American Airlines regarding Southwest Airline's attempt
to repeal or modify the Wright Amendment. That legislation, in
effect for decades, restricts flights out of SWA's home airport,
Love Field in Dallas:
Labor unions representing pilots, flight attendants, mechanics,
dispatchers, instructors, simulator technicians and ground service
employees of American Airlines expressed their dismay at the public
relations manipulation Southwest Airlines has used in an attempt to
convince the public of the necessity to overturn the Wright
Amendment.
The Presidents of the Allied Pilots Association, Association of
Professional Flight Attendants, and the Transport Workers Union
representing more than 50,000 employees of American Airlines have
united in an effort to show that the campaign by Southwest to
repeal the Wright Amendment is a prime example of selfish
opportunism rather than a plea for the freedom to fly.
Southwest is trying to change the rules for their own benefit.
First in Dallas, and then Seattle's Boeing Field, Southwest has
attempted to avoid paying their share of the costs for
infrastructure while attempting to carve out niches at nearby
airports for their sole benefit.
Southwest has not so subtly claimed that "arcane rules" restrict
their ability to provide service from Dallas Love Field, stifle
competition and impede their "freedom to fly." What they are really
saying is they don't want to pay their share of the cost to develop
and maintain modern airport facilities like other carriers; they
don't want to abide by agreements they have made in the past to
accommodate only them; and they want special rules so they can
enjoy government protection from competition.
Delivering petitions collected at bars, restaurants and other
non-aviation related venues to Washington is a cheap publicity
stunt that uses the false promise of low fares to masquerade
Southwest's real objective -- to renege on a compromise they agreed
to in 1979 and create a legislatively protected monopoly at Love
Field. What they fail to mention in their campaign is the negative
affect repealing the Wright Amendment would have on the D/FW
Metroplex and surrounding counties from a resulting loss of jobs
and economic strength.
They also conveniently omit the fact that Southwest Airlines has
the "freedom to fly" unrestricted from DFW today, and has been
offered lucrative incentives to do so. Southwest should take
advantage of this opportunity and truly compete by offering
customers alleged low fares at DFW, or they should abide by the
agreement they made and promised to uphold 26 years ago. They can't
have it both ways and are welcome at DFW anytime.
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