FAA Makes It Official

In today's government ruled by the bureaucrats, even the President's signature isn't good enough. Luckily, the FAA didn't feel like arguing, so the law repealing the Wright Admendment is now official.

As we reported Monday, after President Bush signed the agreement into law, it went to the FAA for a final "sanity check." The deal calls for an end to all Wright Amendment restrictions on flights from Dallas Love Field in 2014.

Until then, carriers flying from Love will be allowed to sell "through-tickets" to destinations beyond the eight-state perimeter currently enforced under the 27-year-old agreement.

With those tickets, passengers won't have to get onboard a second aircraft to travel from, say, Dallas to Las Vegas... although their plane WILL have to stop in a Wright state first. This should make Southwest customers flying out of Love Field very happy.

"We have to view Dallas with all new eyes," said Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin. "We'll be treating it like a new city. We don't know what the demand is going to look like without the Wright Amendment."

Southwest, American, executives at D/FW Airport, and officials with both Dallas and Fort Worth sponsored the new law -- which gives Southwest control of 16 of the 20 gate maximum at Love.

"It has been a long process, but North Texas consumers will benefit from more competition and significantly reduced airfares," US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who sponsored the bill, said in a news release.

The FAA gave final approval for the deal after reviewing the impact increased traffic in and out of Love will have on the D/FW area. Apparently, they feel it won't negatively impact air traffic safety.

Industry analysts (including ANN) felt a quick approval from the FAA was likely in light of testimony given before Congress during the hearings discussing the new law. At that time, FAA officials said any new operations at Love would be handled without a problem.

FMI: www.faa.gov