"D-FW mayors urge Southwest to include D/FW airport in codeshare agreement"

Monday, January 17, 2005

D-FW mayors urge Southwest to include D/FW airport in codeshare agreement
The Dallas (TX) Business Journal


The mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth on Monday expressed dismay that
Southwest Airlines Co. declined to extend its codeshare agreement with ATA
Airlines to passengers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
  
Dallas-based Southwest announced late Thursday it would codeshare flights
with ATA through Chicago Midway Airport from eleven airports, from New York
City to Honolulu. 

The codeshare agreement means that passengers may book their flights on
Southwest and travel on ATA flights to their final destinations. Southwest
could have chosen to codeshare at D/FW through ATA, which operates eight
flights daily from D/FW to Chicago Midway Airport and Indianapolis, with no
additional operational costs. 

The codeshare agreement's inclusion of D/FW Airport could have resulted in
lower fares for many of D/FW's most popular destinations, including New
York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Oakland, Providence and Hartford, airport
personnel said. 

"With so many cities included in the codeshare agreement, the apparent
decision to carve D/FW out of the agreement is truly unfortunate for North
Texas travelers," said D/FW Chief Operating Officer Kevin Cox. 

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said she wants more choices at D/FW. 

"With the flip of a switch, Southwest could offer codeshare service from
D/FW," Miller said. "I hope that Southwest will reconsider its codeshare
decision. It's yet another simple way to get more low fare travel choices
for our hometown flyers. We also truly hope Southwest is still seriously
considering the Terminal E incentive program." 

Last week, D/FW announced its Terminal E Leasing and Air Service Incentive
Program, aimed at filling the 24 gates being vacated by Delta Air Lines by
the end of January. The incentive package was offered to more than 40
airlines -- including Southwest -- highlighted by free rent in Terminal E
for one year and up to $22 million worth of available incentives.


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