Southwest Airlines Chairman Offers Remarks on Bill to Repeal Wright Amendment
Today, Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher commented on legislation introduced by two Texas congressmen to repeal the Wright Amendment that unfairly restricts flights at Dallas Love Field.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB via PR Web Direct)
May 26, 2005 -- Today, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) Chairman Herb Kelleher
commented on legislation introduced by two Texas congressmen to repeal the
Wright Amendment that unfairly restricts flights at Dallas Love Field. The
following are excerpts from a press briefing:
"Southwest Airlines has been a bonanza in markets where we are allowed to
offer unbridled, unconstrained, unshackled, low-fare service; not only by
increasing traffic, but by creating a boon to local economic development," said
Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines Executive Chairman. "Any time competition is
fettered, it is a penalty to consumers.
"The
size of Southwest Airlines' task force may pale in comparison to our
competitors," Kelleher continued. "All we have is truth, right and justice on
our side -- which makes us very successful. Those who are working to abolish the
amendment are standing for the American people, for consumerism, and for free
enterprise.
"There are crazy, weird, bizarre
restrictions about what passengers can and can't do at Love Field; getting rid
of the restrictions would be a considerable boon to the United States and our
Customers. We are asking Congress to eliminate limitations that should have
never been imposed in the first place; we are asking for the freedom to
compete," Kelleher concluded.
"The Right to Fly
Act" is the first legislation to be introduced since the need for the Wright
Amendment was last called into question in November 2004. The 26-year-old
congressional amendment limits nonstop flights from Dallas' Love Field airport
to Texas and its four touching states (three additional states were added in
1997). Designed to protect a then-fledgling DFW International Airport, the
Wright Amendment now prevents meaningful low fare airline competition to and
from the Dallas/Ft. Worth travel market and serves to keep airfares
high.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb245332.htm