James Oberstar: “I believe modifying the Wright amendment without a careful and serious debate about the safety issues involved is…”

“I believe modifying the Wright amendment without a careful and serious debate about the safety issues involved is premature. At the outset, I want to make it clear that I am not against competition in the airline industry. In fact, I have worked many years as chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee and now as the ranking Democratic member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to ensure that competition is alive and well and that consumers are protected. My concerns focus entirely on the safety of permitting greatly expanded traffic growth at Love Field in Dallas, which might complicate the air traffic patterns in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Let me begin by saying that the Wright amendment was a carefully crafted compromise which resolved a heated and long standing dispute between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Today, Dallas Fort Worth is a vibrant international airport and Love Field is very successful and the home of Southwest Airlines. I will not go into the history of the Wright amendment except to say that it has served the Nation well.”