HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-1193 01-25-2005RESOLUTION NO. 05 -1193
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EULESS SUPPORTING THE BRINGING OF NEW
AND /OR EXPANDED AIR SERVICE TO DFW
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
WHEREAS, the Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and their citizens joined together
to design, finance, construct, build and support DFW International Airport;
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 Certificated Air Carrier Services and to transfer such
activity to the Regional Airport," which was later to be named DFW International Airport;
WHEREAS, all airlines, except Southwest Airlines, fulfilled their obligations and
commitments to the public and moved their operations to DFW International Airport
consistent with the Bond Covenants;
WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines sued and won the limited right to fly "intrastate"
service out of Love Field because at the time it was not a "Certificated Carrier ";
WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines only operated "intrastate" flights out of Love Field
from 1973 to 1978;
WHEREAS, in 1979, Southwest Airlines sought to fly "interstate" traffic out of
Love Field over the objections of the City of Dallas, the City of Fort Worth, and DFW
International Airport and other related constituent groups;
WHEREAS, in an effort to settle this dispute, a comprehensive, thoughfful and
fair compromise was ultimately agreed to by all parties, including Southwest Airlines,
which provided for new and expanded interstate air service from Love Field to the four
states contiguous to Texas;
WHEREAS, this legislative compromise has provided a fair, equitable, and
mutually beneficial agreement to an issue that has been debated in the Dallas /Fort
Worth area for many years;
WHEREAS, this legislative compromise is now better known as the "Wright
Amendment" or the "Love Field Amendment ";
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;
WHEREAS, Delta Air Lines announced in September 2004 that it will eliminate
its hub at DFW International Airport, reducing its daily operations from 254 to 21,
resulting in 7,000 jobs being lost and a over $782 million in total loss to the entire North
Texas economy.
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2004, Southwest announced its intention to seek
repeal of this mutually agreed upon legislative compromise that it helped to create in
order to profit from Delta Air Lines' withdrawal of its hub from Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport;
WHEREAS, this attempt to repeal this long- standing compromise, which has
delivered cooperation and harmony to the region, comes at a time in DFW Airport's
history when it faces an estimated $50 million in lost annual revenue directly resulting
from Delta Air Lines' elimination of its hub and also confronts the prospect of paying off
a six fold increase in its debt load as it completes its five -year, $2.7 billion Capital
Development Program;
WHEREAS, any changes to the legislative compromise, which could siphon
traffic from DFW Airport to Love Field, would have a detrimental effect upon DFW at a
critical time when the aviation industry remains in economic uncertainty;
WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines has publicly admitted that it could profitably
provide service to North Texas travelers with Tong -haul interstate service at DFW
International Airport, which is a mere eight miles from Love Field, while retaining its
short-haul service at Love Field;
WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines could and should simply choose to take
advantage of the vacated Delta gates and immediately provide new low -cost options to
North Texas travelers thereby avoiding an unnecessary, divisive and costly regional
conflict;
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 generates more than $14 billion in
annual economic activity for North Texas, supporting more than 268,000 full time jobs,
and serving as the catalyst for international business and tourism growth for the entire
area;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EULESS, TEXAS:
Resolution No. 05 -1193, Page 2 of 3
SECTION 1
THAT in lieu of seeking a divisive approach to amend or repeal the Wright
Amendment, all efforts should focus upon uniting area communities and seeking to
bring new and expanded air service to DFW Airport.
PRESENTED AND APPROVED on the 25th day of January, 2005, by a vote of 5 ayes, 0
nays, and 0 abstentions, at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Euless,
Texas.
APPROVED:
Mary Lib 7114 7eh, Mayor
ATTEST:
usan Cri CMC, City Secretary
Resolution No. 05 -1193, Page 3 of 3