DFW International Says It Would Need 20 Years Or More To
Recover
In the darkened terminal where Delta
Air Lines once serviced more than 220 flights a day, DFW
International Airport officials, members of the North Texas
Commission and aviation industry experts from Simat, Helliesen
& Eichner, Inc. (SH&E) today released an independent
economic analysis of potential impacts if the Wright Amendment were
repealed.
The study concludes that repealing the Wright Amendment would
cost DFW Airport some 204 flights a day, 21 million passengers
annually and slash airport passenger traffic back to levels seen 20
years ago. It predicted DFW would not recover for nearly two
decades, and in the mean time, travel options for North Texas
travelers would be severely reduced, and millions of connecting
passengers lost to other airports.
The study also found that if the Wright Amendment was repealed
flights at Dallas' Love Field could easily double and possibly
triple -- leading to strain on its aging infrastructure and a
dramatic increase in automobile traffic.
DFW International Airport executives also presented business
quotes from an unlikely source of collaboration: former Southwest
Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher. Kelleher has stated publicly in the
past that Southwest supported the Wright Amendment to bring to an
end a long running dispute between the cities of Dallas and Fort
Worth and, his words, "there is no city in the United States that
has two full-fledged hubs competing against one another
successfully." Kelleher depicted that scenario as "unhealthy".
The study entitled "Potential
Airport Impacts - Repeal of the Wright Amendment," was conducted by
Boston-based SH&E Inc., a global aviation industry firm which
produces air traffic studies for airlines.
"The study provides further evidence that repealing the Wright
Amendment would be a devastating economic blow to the entire North
Texas region," said Kevin Cox, chief operating officer at DFW
International Airport. "DFW is a world class airport equipped to
meet the needs of both domestic and international travelers and
grow new business and tourism for Dallas and Fort Worth. Repealing
the Wright Amendment not only means a huge loss of air traffic, it
means a loss of jobs, convention business and economic growth. We
need competition between airlines, not airports that are a mere
eight miles apart."
"We have known all along that repealing the Wright Amendment was
a bad idea for DFW and the entire North Texas region," said Jeff
Wentworth, Chairman of the DFW International Airport Board. "But
now, there is critical, independent analysis to prove it beyond a
shadow of a doubt."
"Repealing would basically wipe out all the progress that has
helped make DFW the undisputed economic engine that drives North
Texas," Wentworth added. "It would also cost the cities of Dallas
and Fort Worth much in the way of community unity. It would be bad
public policy. It is simply a bad idea."
According to Deborah Meehan, president of SH&E, the study's
findings confirm that air service at DFW would be cut dramatically.
"There would be a 35 percent reduction of air traffic, which
translates into a loss of more than 200 daily flights. That
economic impact cannot be underscored enough."
Meehan stated that both domestic and international flights would
be reduced at DFW while Love Field traffic would substantially
increase. "Travelers using DFW would no longer have the convenience
of their current domestic and international routes that they have
become accustomed to using. Furthermore, flights to Central and
South America particularly would bear the brunt of the
reduction."
The study also factored the Love Field Master Plan into its
research. Taking into account the limits designed under the Love
Field Master Plan, DFW will still experience a loss of 121 daily
flights, Love Field departures will more than double, and Love
Field's passenger load will almost triple -- according to
SH&E's 'moderate' scenario. That would shrink DFW to passenger
levels not seen since 1989, and leave 25 empty gates, assuming the
Master Plan remains in place.
Key SH&E Study Findings:
1. DFW will Lose Substantial
Traffic. With repeal of the Wright Amendment, DFW Airport could
lose up to 204 daily flights and up to 21 million passengers
annually, representing a 35 percent decline. With this substantial
loss, DFW Airport passenger levels will decrease to levels last
seen 20 years ago and it will take up to 19 years for traffic to
recover to current levels.
2. Traffic at Love Field Could Triple. With the repeal of the
Wright Amendment, Love Field operations could triple and Love Field
passengers could increase by as many as 16 million passengers a
year. Tripling Love Field's use would strain older existing
facilities and cause local traffic gridlock.
3. DFW will Lose International Air Service. With repeal of the
Wright Amendment, current international air service would be
substantially reduced due to a loss of international connecting
traffic through DFW. Flights to Latin America are particularly
vulnerable.
4. DFW Would Lose Domestic Destinations. With the repeal of the
Wright Amendment, up to 15 current markets with low frequency could
see service cuts or elimination.
5. DFW has Significant Growth Capacity. DFW Airport was designed
and built to handle 100 million passengers and 1.4 million airport
operations annually and can accommodate low-cost carrier growth
that won't cost taxpayers more money. In contrast, if the Wright
Amendment is repealed, Costly improvements will be needed at Love
Field to accommodate increases in traffic; meanwhile, airport
capacity investments already made at DFW Airport will sit idle.
6. Growth at DFW is the Preferred Option. The growth of low-cost
carrier service at DFW will add more passengers and more long-term
economic growth to the Dallas-Fort Worth area than any scenario in
which the Wright Amendment is repealed - without disrupting
facilities, neighborhoods or taxpayer commitments.
"The research provides a big picture perspective of the impact
on DFW Airport and the North Texas region," said Meehan. "The
reality is that DFW is the optimal choice for travelers in the
Dallas and Fort Worth communities."