"Southwest, D/FW scrap over Wright law"

Thursday, October 21, 2005

Southwest, D/FW scrap over Wright law
By DAVID WETHE
The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram


IRVING - Officials from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and Southwest Airlines
scrapped over Love Field restrictions Thursday night before members of the
Transportation Club of Dallas at the D/FW Marriott North.
 
"For Southwest, the Wright Amendment is all about business; it's not about
politics," said Ron Ricks, senior vice president for law, airports and
public affairs for Southwest Airlines. "It's all about business, not about
personalities." 

"We are not growing in Texas and we are not growing in Dallas," he said. "We
want to grow in our home town. To us it's an absolute no-brainer." 

Chris Poinsatte, chief financial officer of D/FW, said competition between
airlines is excellent, but competition between airports is not. 

"We do respect their decision not to come to D/FW," Poinsatte said, "but
what you're told is not necessarily what the facts are." 

Southwest teamed with the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce to explain why
the federal government should do away with the amendment. D/FW Airport and
the North Texas Commission told why the amendment should stay. 

Poinsatte discussed a meeting last year between Southwest and D/FW in which
the airport was trying to woo the airline. He said Southwest rebuffed D/FW's
offer because it feared leaving Love Field to the other low-priced carriers
at D/FW. 

Ricks disputed that account, saying he was there and Poinsatte was not. 

"It's hearsay to you," Ricks said. "Your description of this meeting is an
utter and complete and total fabrication." 

Ricks said D/FW, American Airlines and other airlines at the airport have
"done everything possible in every way, shape and form since 1968 to hurt,
to disparage and to attack" Southwest's brand, its employees and its
reputation while pretending to want our business. 

Dan Petty, president and chief executive of the North Texas Commission, said
the vigor of D/FW and the global access it depends on could be jeopardized
by the Wright Amendment debate. 

"Our port to the world is D/FW International Airport, and the air is our
ocean," he said.


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