Love is in the Air in Dallas as Southwest Celebrates End of Wright Amendment Flight Restrictions

US low-cost pioneer, Southwest Airlines, has announced the airline will offer new non-stop service to 15 domestic destinations from Dallas Love Field following the repeal of flight restrictions imposed in 1979 limiting the reach of Dallas' downtown airport. The carrier will initially add five new routes from October 2014, followed by ten additional destinations from early November 2014, increasing its network from Love Field to 31 non-stop destinations.

With effect from October 13, 2014, Southwest will add flights from Dallas Love Field to Baltimore Washington International, Chicago Midway, Denver, Las Vegas and Orlando. From November 2, 2014, flights will also be added to Atlanta, Ft Lauderdale Hollywood International, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York LaGuardia, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa and Washington Reagan National, the latter using its recently secured slots at the airport.

"The official repeal of Wright Amendment federal flight restrictions signifies a turning point for the Southwest brand not just in Dallas, but from coast-to-coast. We are pleased to offer this new service to the Customers of our home airport, who have waited 34 long years, and we thank the many, many folks who made this opportunity a reality,” said Gary Kelly, chairman, president, and chief executive officer, Southwest Airlines.

The Wright Amendment, and its subsequent revisions, had limited Southwest Airlines to offering non-stop services from Dallas Love Field to just nine US states including Texas. The repeal of the federal law rewrites the map by allowing Southwest to potentially serve an additional 41 states and the District of Columbia (Reagan National airport) from Love Field. The airline is expected to confirm the schedules for each of these new routes in May this year.