Resolution
 

IN SUPPORT OF THE BRINGING NEW AND/OR EXPANDED AIR SERVICE TO DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
 

Whereas, the Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and their citizens joined to design, finance, construct, build and support Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport); and  

Whereas, these Owner Cities adopted Joint Bond Ordinances agreeing to “take such steps as may be necessary, appropriate and legally permissible… to provide for orderly, efficient and effective phase out at Love Field, Red Bird, GSIA and Meacham Field of any and all Certified Air Carrier Services and to transfer such activity to the Regional Airport,” which was later to be named DFW airport; and  

Whereas, all airlines, except Southwest Airlines sued and won the limited right to flight “intrastate” services out of Love Field because at the time it was not a “Certificated Carrier”; and  

Whereas, Southwest Airlines only operated “intrastate” flights out of Love Field from 1973 to 1978; and  

Whereas, in 1979, Southwest Airlines sought to fly “intrastate” traffic out of Love Field over the objections of the City of Dallas, the City of Fort Worth, and DFW Airport and other related constituent groups; and  

Whereas, in an effort to settle this dispute, a comprehensive, thoughtful and fair compromise was ultimately agreed to by all parties, including Southwest Airlines, which provided for new and expanded intrastate air service from Love Field to the four states contiguous to Texas; and  

Whereas, this legislative compromise has provided a fair, equitable, and mutually beneficial agreement to an issue that has been debated in the Dallas/Forth Worth area for many years; and  

Whereas, this legislative compromise is now better know as the “Wright Amendment” or the “Love Field Amendment”; and  

Whereas, Southwest Airlines has operated and flourished under this agreement since its enactment by Congress to the point that Southwest Airlines has become the largest domestic carrier in the United States in terms of passengers carried and now commands a monopoly market share of more than 97 percent at Love Field; and  

Whereas, Delta Airlines announced in September 2004 that it will eliminate its hub at DFW Airport, reducing its daily operations from 254 to 21, resulting in 7000 jobs being lost and over $782 million in total loss to the entire North Texas Economy; and  

Whereas, in November 12, 2004, Southwest Airlines announced its intention to seek repeal of this mutually agreed upon legislative that it helped to create in order to profit from the Delta Airlines’ withdrawal of its hub from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; and  

Whereas, this attempt to repeal this long-standing compromise, which has delivered cooperation and harmony to the region, comes at the time in DFW Airport’s history when it faces an estimated $50 million in list annual revenue directly resulting from Delta Airlines’ elimination of its hub and also confronts the prospect of paying off a six fold increase in its debt load as its completes its five year, $2.7 billion Capital Development Program; and  

Whereas, any changes to the legislative compromise, which could siphon traffic from DFW Airport to love Field, would have a detriment effect upon DFW at a critical time when the aviation industry remains in economic uncertainty; and  

Whereas, Southwest Airlines has stated that it could profitably provide service to North Texas travelers with long-haul interstate service at DFW Airport, which is a mere eight miles from Love Field, while retaining its short-haul service at Love Field; and 

Whereas, Southwest Airlines could choose to take advantage of the vacated Delta Airlines’ gates at DFW Airport and immediately provide new low-cost options to North Texas travelers thereby avoiding an unnecessary, divisive and costly regional conflict; and 

Whereas, DFW Airport can and should channel its resources, not into a long legislative battle, but into securing expanded and new air service options for North Texas travelers, remaining the economic engine that has generated more than $14 billion in annual activity for North Texas, supported more than 268,000 full time jobs, and serve as the catalyst for international business and tourism growth for the entire region;  

NOW Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the League of United Latin American Citizens Board of Directors: 

Section 1: That in lieu of seeking a divisive approach to amend or repeal the Wright Amendment, all effort in the region should focus upon uniting area communities and regional leadership to seek to bring new and expanded air service to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. 

Section 2: That is resolution shall take effect immediately upon this passage. 

Adopted this 27th day of August, 2005, at the National Executive Board Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President