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??

 

So then why should SWA be given uncompetitive access to gates in DCA while DAL and other legacies are not even allowed to bid. They should just buy another carrier that has access to those gates. After all, isn't SWA just oozing money out of every pore?

 

Maybe it is business karma for not paying bills pre-bankruptcy.

 

meh. I guess.... doesn't really have any bearing on today though now does it? I mean since little old "low cost carrier" (I am surprised they don't still call them an upstart )SWA wants access to such cesspools as LGA and EWR and DCA, it is only fitting that some other carriers be given access to their little gold mine in DAL.. Frankly, I think SWA is running a little scared of the legacies these days. But that's just my opinion.... I do know the reverse is no longer true. Nobody is afraid of SWA any more.

 

I don't know. The gubiment controls those slots and decides who gets them. If SWA gets them great. If someone else gets them great. I hardly think 4 or 5 gates is uncompetitive access though. YMMV.

 

I doubt SWA is scared of the legacies. Them good old Texas boys don't scare easily. They have cash, are making record profit, and can always file bankruptcy like all the real airlines did and skip out on their debt. It's a beautiful thing.

 

Southwest could absolutely care less if anyone is "afraid" of them. There only focus is profit. So far that focus has worked out pretty well.

 

Didn't say that HAVING them was uncompetitive. Getting them thru a (basically) no-bid process... is. No variable mileage there.

 

Dude, every airline will present their best case. The govt. will decide who gets the gates. I highly doubt SWA gets preferential treatment with the Feds. I could be wrong but I doubt it.

 

Between this and the trail of dead kittens, is it any wonder everyone hates Southwest?

In 20/20 hindsight they should have bulldozed the runways at Love like they did at Stapleton.