Who should get the last 2 gates @ Love Field: Virgin America or Southwest ? (Dallas: bankruptcy, costs)

[seat21d]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

By the way Bill737, Southwest could fly to DFW any time it wants. I think you may have been eluding to the fact that they couldn't.

Not without losing gates at DAL. That is why AirTran pulled out of DFW after WN purchased them.

A 2006 agreement among the cities, the airport, Southwest and American Airlines states that Southwest would lose one gate at Dallas Love Field gate, up to eight gates, for every gate that it or an “affiliate” operates at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2...o-get-ou.html/

[pappy97]

I am beyond thrilled that it appears Virgin will get those gates at LOVE. As I mentioned before in another thread, I've been beyond livid that Southwest won't have nonstops to the SF Bay Area starting in October 2014. I even wrote them and they said not to expect any new routes any time soon after that. I find it hard to believe that Dallas Area - SF Bay Area is not a big revenue generator for Southwest and Oakland is practically a west coast hub for Souhwest.

Now Virgin will come in to Love and I'll just fly them from Dallas Love Field to the Bay Area nonstop. Once Southwest sees that nobody wants to fly Dallas-Alq-Oak/SFO anymore and can nonstop with a competitor right out of Love Field, they'll have to cave and give us a DAL-OAK nonstop.

[seat21d]

Originally Posted by pappy97

I am beyond thrilled that it appears Virgin will get those gates at LOVE. As I mentioned before in another thread, I've been beyond livid that Southwest won't have nonstops to the SF Bay Area starting in October 2014. I even wrote them and they said not to expect any new routes any time soon after that. I find it hard to believe that Dallas Area - SF Bay Area is not a big revenue generator for Southwest and Oakland is practically a west coast hub for Souhwest.

Now Virgin will come in to Love and I'll just fly them from Dallas Love Field to the Bay Area nonstop. Once Southwest sees that nobody wants to fly Dallas-Alq-Oak/SFO anymore and can nonstop with a competitor right out of Love Field, they'll have to cave and give us a DAL-OAK nonstop.

Three airlines already fly non-stop from the DFW area to the Bay (SFO and SJC). There's already a lot of competition on the route. Southwest probably thinks they can command higher fares flying elsewhere from DAL. Why try to complete on a route that is already heavily serviced?

[Made_it_To_the_Metroplex]

10/13/14 will be a VERY interesting day at DAL, that much is certain. I think this is exciting!

[pappy97]

Originally Posted by seat21d

Three airlines already fly non-stop from the DFW area to the Bay (SFO and SJC). There's already a lot of competition on the route. Southwest probably thinks they can command higher fares flying elsewhere from DAL. Why try to complete on a route that is already heavily serviced?

The point is, it's much more convenient for many people to fly out of Love Field. You can fly anywhere out of DFW (for the most part), so simply saying that airlines fly there isn't a compelling argument.

When Southwest starts losing business to the Bay Area from Dallas in favor of people taking Virgin out of Love, they'll probably cave.

[seat21d]

Originally Posted by pappy97

The point is, it's much more convenient for many people to fly out of Love Field. You can fly anywhere out of DFW (for the most part), so simply saying that airlines fly there isn't a compelling argument.

When Southwest starts losing business to the Bay Area from Dallas in favor of people taking Virgin out of Love, they'll probably cave.

WN will only care if:
1. there are not other more profitable routes to fly with their limited gates at DAL or other available resources (planes, crew, etc.), or
2. to punish Virgin America with rock bottom fares that will cause Virgin to lose money and retreat (a la what AA did to Legend)

[Bill737]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

Virgin will absolutely lower pricing in the markets in which they will fly. Could Southwest have done more with the gates? Of course they could, but that isn't how the DOJ would approach the situation. Currently, Southwest has far more market share in the DFW area and giving them more gates would add more. Adding VX will increase competition to the markets they will service. Its about diversity of market and marketshare, not who can do the most with the gates.

By the way Bill737, Southwest could fly to DFW any time it wants. I think you may have been eluding to the fact that they couldn't.

......And they would have to give up at least 8 gates at Love Field if they do so. I was never eluding to anything of the sort.

[JimBaker488]

So much for Texas hospitality.
Dallas should be rolling out the welcome mat for Virgin America and sending over a case of Wild Turkey. It takes brass ones, plus some deep pockets, to take on Southwest Airlines at Love Field.
Instead of applauding, city officials are considering blocking Virgin’s plan to sublease two gates at Love and launch service next fall.

Schnurman: Dallas should heed history, promote Love Field competition Virgin America would bring | Dallas Morning News
*****
Talk about hypocrisy ! Southwest finally got out from under the "Wright Amendment" in North Texas, and now they want to impose their own set of controls on the competition at Love Field by way of excluding as many competitors as possible.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

Schnurman: Dallas should heed history, promote Love Field competition Virgin America would bring | Dallas Morning News
*****
Talk about hypocrisy ! Southwest finally got out from under the "Wright Amendment" in North Texas, and now they want to impose their own set of controls on the competition at Love Field by way of excluding as many competitors as possible.

Thats the way I see it too and I work in the airline industry.

[Johnhw2]

Competition is a good thing. Virgin all the way is fine by me. With growth of the area we are going to see another terminal at DFW before too long and additional airlines will come in as our business pattern changes with growth and corporate relos