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Old 10-18-2005, 09:59 AM
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SWAjet
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Default SWA could leave Dallas Love

Southwest could leave Love
12:54 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 18, 2005

By ERIC TORBENSON / The Dallas Morning News

Southwest Airlines Co. would consider moving its headquarters if it can't expand flying from Dallas Love Field, the carrier's president said Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly, left, and founder Herb Kelleher talk to media following a June news conference about the Wright amendment.
If the carrier's efforts to repeal the Wright amendment restrictions failed, "there could be a time, if we continue to have a modicum of success, that it would be a bit odd for us to have our headquarters at one of the smallest posts in our system," said Southwest president Colleen Barrett.

Last November, the Dallas-based discounter launched a campaign to repeal Wright, which restricts most commercial service at Love Field to Texas and nearby states. Bills are pending in Congress to repeal the law, and hearings may be held as soon as next month. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines Inc. oppose any changes to the rules.

Ms. Barrett's comments, at a news conference at Southwest's headquarters at Love Field, were similar to remarks from chairman Herb Kelleher in a published report Sunday. "Inevitably, as we grow bigger across the rest of the country, and Dallas remains the same size, we might have to begin casting about for a place that's more efficient to operate," Mr. Kelleher told The New York Times.

Southwest has hinted that Dallas is a less-than-ideal city for its administrative offices because it's inconvenient to move its people there for meetings. Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly has previously said that if the carrier were picking a new headquarters from scratch, Dallas wouldn't make the first cut because of the Wright restrictions.
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