"Now that Wright is done, Southwest adding destinations"

Monday, October 16, 2006

Now that Wright is done, Southwest adding destinationsBy TREBOR BANSTETTER
and DAVID WETHE
The Fort Worth (TX) Star Telegram


Sharp-eyed travelers looking for bargains might want to start paying
attention to Southwest Airlines' Internet site over the next few days.

The discount carrier will begin updating its schedule with flights from
Dallas Love Field Airport to distant cities, now that the Federal Aviation
Administration signed off Monday on a deal to revise the Wright Amendment.

Southwest officials say they will formally announce their slate of new
destinations and fares once they've completely updated their schedule, which
should take about two days. Until then, they said, individual flights will
begin appearing on Southwest's Web site at www.southwest.com.

However, customers won't be able to purchase tickets for the new cities
until the airline is completely finished revising the schedule, said
spokeswoman Beth Harbin.

"You might start seeing" fares, she said, "but you won't be able to book
them yet."

American Airlines, which also flies from Love, is also updating its schedule
with new flights and some began appearing Monday evening, said spokesman Tim
Wagner. But initial prices will be the same as on American flights from
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, he said.

However, American's fares are likely to match Southwest's once both
airlines' schedules are updated.

The Wright Amendment is a 1979 federal law that restricted flights from Love
to Texas and a handful of adjacent states. Last month, Congress revised the
law to keep the restrictions in place for eight years, but allow airlines to
fly passengers to distant cities as long as there is a connecting stop
within the Wright zone.

President Bush signed the bill law week, and on Monday FAA officials
certified that the deal will not affect air safety in North Texas. With the
FAA's approval, the bill can now take effect.

"We are confident that the safe and efficient use of airspace will not be
compromised and the existing operational processes and airspace can
accommodate expected changes and growth in this area," according to the
FAA's letter to the airlines.

That opinion was based upon a study the agency commissioned earlier this
year.

Identical one-page letters were sent to Vice President Dick Cheney, who
serves as president of the Senate, and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert,
R-Ill.

Southwest, the nation's largest discount airline, is expected to offer
cheap, one-stop fares to cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Dallas-based Southwest is the largest carrier at Love, operating 14 gates
there.

Fort Worth-based American has a much smaller presence at Love, with two
gates. That airline will also offer one-stop flights and will likely match
Southwest's fares.

But American will heft most of its competitive muscle from nearby
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, where the airline operates a major hub and sells
nonstop fares to most cities.

American won't offer flights to any cities that aren't already available
from D/FW, Wagner said. The airline will primarily connect Love passengers
through St. Louis, which is within the Wright restrictions.

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