Southwest Airlines plans campaign against Love Field restrictions

Airline Industry Information, Dec 6, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Southwest Airlines has outlined its plans to win support for repealing a federal amendment that restricts flights at Dallas Love Field Airport.

The law prohibits most passenger aircraft from flying between Love Field and anywhere beyond Texas and seven nearby states. This means that Southwest Airlines, which is based at Love Field, is not able to offer direct services to many big US cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago, reports The Associated Press.

The law, known as the Wright Amendment, was introduced in 1979 in an effort to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, but Southwest Airlines argues that such protection is no longer necessary.

The airline is planning a "grass-roots campaign" to repeal the law, including channelling public opposition to the restriction through a website and commissioning a study to highlight how low-fare long-haul flights to Love Field would benefit the region.

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