Originally Posted by
paxhauler85
It comes down to this: AA and the politicians set up the rules to punish SWA for refusing to serve DFW and pay the high landing fees and rent, essentially banishing them to Love with a ton of restrictions that they figured would run them out of business. It didn't work. Now said restrictions are going away and SWA is still around, albeit a little bigger airline then they were in 1979. Having held up their end of the deal, SWA is ready to realize the massive efficiencies and revenue that are long overdue. Out of left field, Delta shows up and demands gates on the premise of it being fair. It's a flawed argument.
Wow, that's not the history I remember. Not even close.
The government ordered DFW to be built and ordered the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth to limit flights out of the existing airports of Love and Meacham. The limits forced the existing majors to move to DFW and the airlines signed an agreement to move. AFTER that move agreement was signed by the existing airlines, SWA was created and operated out of the now almost abandoned Love Field. Exactly how is that "essentially banishing SWA to Love?" SWA wouldn't even exist without the existing majors being banished to DFW.
Regarding SWA having held up their end of the deal, they've enjoyed an incredible insulation from competition at Dallas' close in airport because the other majors couldn't breach their agreement and move back to Love. How is that holding up their end of the deal? SWA didn't exist when the deal to move was struck. SWA took advantage of the abandoned close in airport situation and created a great airline that was protected from competition during its formative years. SWA wouldn't exist were it not for these series of very good legislative fortune.
Now the legislation is almost gone. As such, other airlines will want a presence. Deregulation demands it.
Carl