There are 20 gates at DAL, which is the limit. SWA already has 16 of them. United has two, and AA has agreed to divest the two they have. However, AA has not used those gates in some time (since attempts to profitably serve DAL failed). Since then, they have been leased to ... drum roll, please ... Delta Air Lines. DL wishes to purchase the rights to the gates they have been leasing, and are using the promise of expanded service as political pressure. I don't blame them for doing it. However, I also don't think that giving the airline that already has 80% of the gates in DAL two more fosters increased competition.

At this point, the history of the Wright Amendment matters not a bit. In 11 months, it is consigned to the dustbin of history. Debating it then is like getting in to an argument over the Civil Aeronautics Board. Who cares??