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Love Field Debate Heats Up in Waco, Texas

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

Jul. 27--American Airlines will consider reducing or dropping service at some regional airports if Southwest Airlines is allowed to expand its operations from Dallas Love Field, airline officials told Waco leaders Tuesday.

American Airlines officials met with City Manager Larry Groth and Mayor Virginia DuPuy at Waco Regional Airport as part of a campaign to enlist cities in American's fight against Southwest over Love Field.

Congress is considering the repeal of the Wright Amendment, which limits Southwest's flights out of the Dallas airport to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from competition.

American officials said they aren't singling out Waco as particularly at risk but said all small "spoke" cities that American Eagle serves should be concerned if the Wright Amendment goes away. They said American could pull out of lower-performing cities to free up more airplanes to compete with Southwest at Love Field.

Also, more customers would drive from Waco to Love Field rather than fly to DFW if they could fly Southwest to nationwide destinations, said Dale Morris, governmental affairs director at American Eagle.

"There is no plan saying, 'This community would go first,'" Morris added. "We're not here to threaten the community.

An official with Southwest Airlines, however, said its rival was seeking to do just that and branded the American Airlines campaign as a "scare tactic." American Eagle accounts for 75 percent of Waco's passengers, making seven flights a day to Dallas, while Continental Connections flies four times daily to Houston. Last year, the airport had record numbers, and enplanements were up 13 percent in the first six months of 2005.

"Waco has always been a strong market," Morris said. "We have enjoyed community support and we see growth potential in that. ... The issue gets back to how are you going to make sure you keep your service, how do you keep economic development going in your city."

Morris asked city leaders to consider a resolution opposing repeal of the 1979 amendment, which then-U.S. Rep. Jim Wright authored as a compromise to protect the new DFW airport while allowing Southwest to continue to operate at the old Dallas airport. The current law prohibits Southwest from direct flights from Love Field to any airport outside Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi or Alabama.

In the last year, Southwest has stepped up its efforts to abolish those restrictions, starting a campaign called "Set Love Free" and drawing wide bipartisan political support in Congress. Last week, Sens. John Ensign, R-Nevada, and John McCain, R-Arizona, introduced a repeal measure in the Senate similar to one now before the House.

American, which is based at DFW, is fighting back with its own campaign, including visits to all 69 regional airports, starting in Texas. The airline is asking cities for resolutions against the Wright Amendment repeal. So far, only San Angelo has signed on.

Mayor DuPuy and Groth said they would have to study the issue more and talk to the city council before taking any position. Groth said American officials presented their concerns but did not threaten to pull out of Waco.

Dallas-based Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart scoffed at American Airlines' city-by-city campaign as "scare tactic 101.""The one thing they fear the most is competition," he said. "The whole idea of going to cities like Waco to put the fear of God in them to support higher fares at DFW is a bit ridiculous."

Morris said American is not using scare tactics but is informing cities of the airline's economic realities.

He said the Wright Amendment's repeal could allow Southwest to siphon more Waco customers to Love Field, offering lower fares and a shorter drive than DFW. Love Field is 101 miles from Waco, while DFW is 111.

"Take cities like Waco," he said in an interview. "You're so close to Dallas Love Field, your airport would suffer."

Also, American Airlines would use the Wright Amendment repeal as an opportunity to add flights at Love Field to compete directly with Southwest, Morris said. That could cause American to add more planes to the Dallas market by shrinking its fleet in smaller markets, he said, and less profitable markets could close or see reduced service.

Waco Regional Airport aviation director Richard Howell said Southwest's expansion would likely mean competition for Waco Regional Airport.

However, he said airlines at Waco Regional Airport already compete effectively with Southwest flights from Austin, which is about as close as Dallas.

Lawmakers from Texas have been divided on the Wright Amendment. Some, such as Congressman Chet Edwards, D-Waco, have not taken a position.

"Chet is still listening to both sides of the debate at this time," said Josh Taylor, Edwards spokesman. "Chet is committed to quality air service for Central Texas families at Waco Regional Airport."

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To see more of the Waco Tribune-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wacotrib.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, Waco Tribune-Herald, Texas

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AMR, LUV,

Source: Waco Tribune-Herald

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