DFW, SWA Battle Over Love Field Restrictions

Lobbyists for both DFW Airport and Southwest Airlines are making the rounds on Capitol Hill this week, trying for all they're worth to change some minds on whether the Wright Amendment restricting flights to and from Dallas Love Field should finally be lifted.

It doesn't matter which side of the argument you're on -- among members of the North Texas congressional delegation, there are minds to be changed wherever you look.

And some members are sitting firmly on the fence. Take, for instance, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX): "I understand both vantage points," she told the Dallas Morning News. Her district now includes Love Field. It used to encompass DFW Airport.

The Wright Amendment (along with the Shelby Amendment) limits commercial passenger flights from Love to Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Love is Southwest Airlines' headquarters and the company would very much like to beef up its schedule to and from Love.

While some lawmakers are on the fence about changing or repealing the Wright Amendment, others are firmly entrenched in their respective camps.

"Why change a formula that's working well?" asked Congressman Michael Burgess, quoted by the Morning News. "We've got two great airports that are providing jobs and economic activity for our area."

SWA had said it was "passionately neutral" on whether to repeal Wright. But back in November, as Delta pulled out of its DFW gates, leaving them open to other discount carriers, Southwest decided it was time to remove what some have called its "geographical shackles."

FMI: www.southwest.com, www.dfwairport.com