Critics Question Safety; JetBlue, NWA Want Some Love (Field), Too

Despite the recent landmark agreement between Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Dallas and Fort Worth city governments on eliminating the Wright Amendment, there is still a lot of wrangling going on in North Texas... and now, the halls of Congress.

The landmark agreement on the fate of air travel out of Dallas' Love Field has been met with accolades from many legislators, and has the widespread support of the airlines involved, the city governments... and even most Texas lawmakers.

But, alas, you just knew it wouldn't be THAT easy... and even as the mayors of Fort Worth and Dallas, and top executives from American Airlines and Southwest Airlines lobbied Congress Tuesday to win support on Capitol Hill for the compromise they crafted... some voices of dissent were growing louder, as well.

Dallas Representative Jeb Hensarling, for example, called the agreement  "an eight-year extension of the Wright agreement" -- something he opposes vehemently, especially as he wrote the original bill, calling for the repeal of Wright, that started the whole brouhaha one year ago.

Other representatives have also voiced concern that despite terms meant to keep traffic into and out of Love at manageable levels.... that increased service availability from the inner-city airport would lead to more planes in the air... and a greater potential for something to go wrong.

And then there are other airlines... in particular, JetBlue and Northwest, who on Tuesday came out in opposition of the Wright Agreement, arguing that the proposed deal is unfair to competing airlines and would keep new service locked out of Dallas Love Field.

Both are attacking the agreement for the same reason... but from slightly different angles. Executives with JetBlue Airways called the agreement "an anti-competitive deal that was put together by two carriers in a backroom," and said the low-cost carrier is VERY interested in starting service from Love... but wouldn't be able to under the proposed deal.

And then there's Northwest... which revealed this week it had apparently considered starting indirect service at Love through regional operator, Pinnacle Airlines. The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports Pinnacle had its eye on the old Legend terminal at Love Field... but that deal fell through after Dallas Mayor Laura Miller decided she wanted to seize the property, and then destroy the terminal in order to reduce gate space at the airport.

For now... everyone's plans for Love are up in the air... but one thing seems certain: as history has shown with all matters dealing with the Wright Amendment... this is not going to be an easy fight.

FMI: www.southwest.com, www.aa.com, www.jetblue.com, www.nwa.com