AA Threatens to Build Hub at DAL?!?!

[FlyingPhotog]

American Threatens To Build Hub At Love Field

POSTED: 12:03 pm CST February 19, 2005

DALLAS -- American Airlines' chief executive said the Fort Worth-based airline is prepared to build a full-fledged hub at Love Field if flight restrictions are lifted from the Dallas airport. That's even though the move would harm the carrier and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

American chairman and chief executive Gerard Arpey says the world's largest carrier would have little choice but to split its North Texas operations to remain competitive if the Wright Amendment were repealed.

Arpey's comments came in an interview with The Dallas Morning News editorial board.

Southwest Airlines is urging lawmakers to repeal the 1979 federal law that prohibits all but the smallest passenger planes from flying between Love Field and anywhere beyond Texas and seven nearby states.

The law is meant to protect the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport -- but keeps Southwest from offering direct service to many big U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago.

[FlyingPhotog]

Surely if they do move to DAL, they won't dumb enough to compete with WN on the same routes. WN will under-cut their fares, you can count on that. I think by this time next year the Wright Amendment will be history.

[delta767]

Surely if they do move to DAL, they won't dumb enough to compete with WN on the same routes. WN will under-cut their fares, you can count on that. I think by this time next year the Wright Amendment will be history.

Thats why it would be a bad move on AA's part to move into DAL. They need to make DFW as strong a possible if they want to remain cometitive, not split their opreration between two airports. They need to show the people of the DFW area that DFW is the best airport to fly out of.

[Jbrewster1012]

Why make a hub at DAL too? If they need more gates at DFW, they can take DL's.

[FlyingPhotog]

Why make a hub at DAL too? If they need more gates at DFW, they can take DL's.

Because Dallas people would be able to fly long-haul from DAL and it's closer (and cheaper) than driving to DFW and AA doesn't want to lose a piece of the pie.

[ATrude777]

That..would be the most STUPIDEST move AA has EVER made if they move to DAL or move a large op there. and Im an AA flyer. if AA moves to DAL I hope WN beats the crap outta them. No way should this even be thought of. I am not saying AA cannot move to DAL, it would be stupid to waste all the time building DFW only to just move to DAL, and all that could fly there is MD80's, and RJ, and 738 maybe. Can a 757 even make it there???? I am cheering for Southwest Airlines here if AA makes this move.

Alex

[FlyingPhotog]

That..would be the most STUPIDEST move AA has EVER made if they move to DAL or move a large op there. and Im an AA flyer. if AA moves to DAL I hope WN beats the crap outta them. No way should this even be thought of. I am not saying AA cannot move to DAL, it would be stupid to waste all the time building DFW only to just move to DAL, and all that could fly there is MD80's, and RJ, and 738 maybe. Can a 757 even make it there???? I am cheering for Southwest Airlines here if AA makes this move.

Alex

DAL can land any plane in the AA fleet. Air Force One can land there, no prob.

[ATrude777]

DAL can land any plane in the AA fleet. Air Force One can land there, no prob.

even a fully loaded 777?

That'll be the day "AA flight 703 a boeing 777 heavy, landing into DAL from..LHR"!!!
Alex

[DAL767-400ER]

The Flying Competition TerminAAtor is on the roll again . Good luck AA, you will need it, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope you get your a$$ handed to you by WN at DAL .

[babypurin]

American Airlines is starting to become really annoying. They are trying to kick out everyone out of their Dallas empire.

[DeltaFlyer]

This is nothing more then a ploy to get the NIMBY folks around DAL to fight the repeal of the Wright Ammendment...The folks that live around DAL were worried about increase flights and noise that they have been talking with WN about that...WN has assured them that the number of flights would not change, just the destination of the flights and a flight to HOU has the same noise level as a flight to LAX...Now with AA saying they will come over too that will increase the number of flights and noise level so the NIMBY's are fighting mad again and pushing to keep the Wright Ammendment in place...By making this announcement AA has assured that alot of locals are going to be fighting the Wright Amendment spending money that AA wont have to pay to lobby against it...

[Legend_Airlines]

Are there really even enough gates at DAL for a move like this?

Last I heard SWA occupied all of the terminal ones, however I believe it was mentioned they had cut flights?

[Foxtrot]

Re:

Are there really even enough gates at DAL for a move like this?

Last I heard SWA occupied all of the terminal ones, however I believe it was mentioned they had cut flights?

There is an entire unused concourse (the east concourse) at DAL, which would be sufficient enough for AA/Eagle, once it's refurbished and jetways are added.

Call me whatever you want, but right now, AA's playing a game of chess. Hmm, let's see, our next move will be... Ah! We got them now! We will start a major hub operation at DAL! Making a move on the enemy and scoring kills isn't gonna be a smooth ride though. Especially when you're down on your own major resource-money.

If indeed AA does start a hub operation if everything goes as planned (and the WA is repealed), I still don't think that you will see major international operations there. A number of reasons, the most obvious being that the terminal at DAL isn't equipped to handle a surge of passengers from a 772ER or any other heavy. Then of course, the wing span of a triple just won't do it. And DFW will still be the priority airport for international traffic, especially with the opening of Terminal D.

Well, that's my feeble two cents' worth.

Foxtrot

[AA 1818]

Foxtrot, I agree 100%!

If AA moves to DAL expect it to be purealy domestic and maybe one or two flights to Mexico. I hope that if they do make the move that they are successfull and that their success translates into more jobs and further removations and improvements to DAL!

[FlyingPhotog]

I hope that if they do make the move that they are successfull and that their success translates into more jobs and further removations and improvements to DAL!

Speaking of improvements, DAL is a dump compared to many other airports WN flies to. I think if the Wright Amendment is lifted, the WN terminal will be remodeled, if not rebuilt since it will put DAL on the national stage again.

I seriously doubt WN will go without increasing the number of flights. They have pulled over 20 flights from DAL since 9/11 so they could always bring that number of departures back to the old level. Besides, everybody near DAL is happy now that the 732's are gone.