more on SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dana Blankenhorn <danablankenhorn () mindspring com>
Date: July 16, 2005 8:31:30 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
Reply-To: Dana Blankenhorn <dana () a-clue com>


It's great fun to recall the history of Love Field itself in all  
this. Since I was a business reporter in Texas in 1979, Ms. Barrett's  
note made me was nostalgic.

Back in the 1970s, when Southwest was born, its route system  
consisted of Houston Hobby (not Intercontinental, now Bush), San  
Antonio, and Love Field in Dallas.

By running the equivalent of a bus system on this triangular route,  
Southwest got rich, and never touched the jurisdiction of the FAA,  
which would have meant greatly increased costs when going interstate.

Southwest did not even begin its nationwide expansion until the era  
of "airline deregulation," started under Carter CAB head Alfred Kahn  
(http://www.pbs.org/fmc/timeline/pkahn.htm).

Now, apparently, we've come full circle, with Southwest once again  
trying to protect Love Field, and expand service there (although  
since it's so close to city center many urbanites resent the idea).  
As Ms. Barrett notes, The Wright Amendment (named for powerful Rep.  
James Wright of Ft. Worth, on the opposite side of the Dallas  
Metroplex from Love Field) was aimed at curbing Southwest's growth in  
the Kahn era.

Why the big deal? Because Love Field, like Hobby Airport in Houston,  
is just a few miles from downtown, while DFW and Houston IAH (Bush)  
are 30-40 miles from downtown.

Positive: quicker cab rides to your plane.
Negative: big noise in inner-city if Love traffic grows.

Oh, what does this have to do with the Wright Amendment? It was  
created, in the Kahn era, to restrict Southwest's growth as it tried  
to expand out-of-state. Ironic that it's still an issue, given how  
Southwest is Wal-Marting the airline industry under its banner.

But you can't have real fun with news like this until you know (deep  
Paul Harvey voice) the rest of the story.

Dana Blankenhorn   danablankenhorn () mindspring com
Mooreslore Blog    http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/
ZDNet OpenSource    http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/index.php
A-Clue.Com    http://www.a-clue.com dana () a-clue com


----- Original Message ----- From: "David Farber" <dave () farber net>
To: "Ip ip" <ip () v2 listbox com>
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 6:46 PM
Subject: [IP] SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT



> Begin forwarded message:
>
> Wright Is Wrong! Set Love Free!
>
> I am sending you this ALERT today to ask for your help. By now,  
> you  have probably heard about our fight to repeal the Wright  
> Amendment,  the 1979 law that makes it illegal to fly or advertise  
> flights from  Dallas Love Field to points beyond the four states  
> surrounding Texas,  plus Alabama, Mississippi, and Kansas. We need  
> your help to make this  happen!
>
> The Wright Amendment has a strong history of stifling competition  
> and creating high fares. Simply put, the Wright Amendment is Wrong!  
> It's  time to Set Love Free and repeal this archaic, antiquated law  
> now!  Southwest wants to bring you low fares and Legendary Customer  
> Service  from Love Field to many of the 60 cities that we currently  
> serve  across the nation.
>
> Please join our efforts to Set Love Free by visiting our web site:  
> setlovefree.com to take action now. You can help by:
>
> Contacting Your Elected Officials
>
> Encourage your federal legislators to please support the Right to  
> Fly  Act (HR 2646) introduced in the House by Texas Congressmen  
> Jeb  Hensarling and Sam Johnson that will immediately remove the  
> Wright  Amendment restrictions on Dallas Love Field Airport, or any  
> companion  legislation that might be introduced into the Senate.  
> The "Write  Congress" feature is on the home page of setlovefree.com.
>
> Thank you for taking action now to repeal the Wright Amendment. We   
> have always been able to count on you, our loyal Customers. Please   
> accept my heartfelt thanks for helping us Set Love Free!
>
> LUV,
>
>
> Colleen C. Barrett
> President, Southwest Airlines
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
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