Number: RL32984
Title: Dalla Love Field: The Wright and Shelby Amendments
Authors: Todd B. Tatelman, American Law Division; and John W. Fischer, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: The history of the Wright Amendment dates back to the 1960s when the now defunct Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) proposed the creation of a single regional airport in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. To construct the new airport, the two cities entered into an agreement that required the phasing out of separate existing airports in Dallas and Ft. Worth and transferring air service to the new DFW Airport, which opened in 1974. During this time, Southwest Airlines began operating out of Dallas's Love Field as a purely intrastate air carrier. As such, Southwest was not subject to CAB regulation. Congress's subsequent passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, resulted in Southwest being allowed to operate interstate flights from Love Field, and prompted concerns from many local officials about DFW's financial stability.
Pages: 18
Date: November 9, 2005