Virgin America CEO backs Southwest in Love Field standoff
The chief executive of Virgin America has weighed in on the ‘saga’ unfolding at Dallas Love Field between Southwest Airlines and Delta.
David Cush says Southwest, as the legal operator of the disputed gates has the right to use them as it pleases.
"My view of this is pretty clear: Southwest owns those gates," said Virgin CEO Cush.
"They should be able to do whatever they want to with them without having Delta enlisting the government to do their bidding."
Virgin is an interested bystander in the squabble as it has control of two gates at the airport.
Southwest Airlines has the other 18 gates at the city-owned airport and allows Delta to operate five flights a day from one of them, but this business agreement between the two carriers expires on July 6.
Southwest says it wants to take the gate back to increase the number of flights, while Delta also wants to expand at Love Field.
The city of Dallas this week asked a Federal court to settle the dispute.
US officials say under Federal law Delta can remain at Love Field and the city must make available more slots for the Atlanta based carrier.
Dallas says regulators "have put the City in an impossible situation" and wants a Federal court to end the standoff once and for all.
The situation came about following the end of the Wright Amendment, which had blocked long distance flights from Love Field for many years.
Virgin America gained control of the two gates American Airlines was forced to give up following the American-US Airways merger.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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