Southwest Airlines today said it would start new nonstop service from Dallas Love Field to both Kansas City and St. Louis, and American Airlines last night said it formally notified Love Field officials that it would initiate service as soon as possible. The announcements quickly followed President George W. Bush's signing of a 2006 appropriations bill that includes a provision allowing service from Love Field to Missouri. Missouri becomes the eighth state to which airlines can fly with large aircraft from Love Field. Operations to all other states remain prohibited by the Wright Amendment
(BTNonline, Nov. 10).
Southwest said it would start four daily roundtrip flights on both new routes, effective Dec. 13. The airline already is the largest operator at Kansas City International and has a sizable presence at Lambert St. Louis International, which also is served heavily by American.
American said it would start flights at Love "as soon as it can obtain and prepare appropriate facilities" and soon would issue "a full schedule-change announcement." The airline already flies multiple daily flights to both Missouri airports from its Dallas/Fort Worth International hub, across town from Love Field.
American has been fighting a legal and public relations battle to prevent Southwest, or any other carriers, from flying between Love Field and any airports not already covered by Wright Amendment exemptions. In fact, American strongly has suggested Southwest instead expand Dallas operations by beginning service at DFW. Because of the new legislation, however, American opted to prepare for Love Field operations in order to compete against Southwest.
This is not the first time American has undertaken such a strategy: engage in legal wrangling to prevent a competitor from launching new Love Field services but ultimately introduce its own competitive services from the airport.
After losing a court battle in early 2000 to prevent startup premium carrier Legend Airlines from flying between Love and a handful of business destinations, American launched its own all-premium class service from the airport
(BTN, Feb. 21, 2000). By using jets reconfigured with fewer seats, both American and Legend made use of a Wright Amendment provision allowing long-haul service from Love with aircraft carrying 56 or fewer passengers.
American won that battle as Legend suspended operations before the end of the year and liquidated in spring 2001. After Legend's demise, American ultimately ended its Love Field service.