The changing face of Dallas Love Field, Delta Air Lines to exit Love Field on October 12

Dallas Love Field will dramatically change on October 13 when the Wright Amendment expires. With an expanding new terminal design and a different set of airlines, the airport is evolving with new long-range routes.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will end its Delta Connection operations at Dallas’ Love Field on October 12. According to the Dallas News, the City of Dallas has served notice to the carrier that it can no longer accommodate the carrier after that date with gates in the new Terminal 2. Delta has served DAL since 2008 with service to Atlanta from Terminal 1. Previously Delta served Love Field when it was the only airport for Dallas. Delta currently subleases the two gates from American Airlines. Those two gates will go to Virgin America. On October 13 the Wright Amendment will expire.

According to Wikipedia, the Wright Amendment of 1979 was a federal law governing traffic at Dallas Love Field with some provisions also applying to other airfields in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex including Fort Worth Meacham International Airport and Addison Airport. It originally limited most nonstop flights from Love Field to destinations within Texas and neighboring states. Additional states were added to the permissible area in 1997 and 2005. In 2006, the amendment was repealed but left some restrictions intact until October 13, 2014 but with an added restriction on the number of gates allowed.

Dallas Love Field is named after Moss L. Love, who while assigned to the U.S. Army 11th Cavalry, died in an airplane crash near San Diego, California on September 4, 1913, becoming the 10th fatality in U.S. army aviation history. His Wright Model C biplane crashed during practice for his Military Aviator Test. Love Field was named by the United States Army on October 19, 1917.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile the City of Dallas has issued this description of its new DAL Terminal 2:

The new Love Field Airport will increase efficiency for travelers while maintaining the convenience that Love Field currently offers passengers. In the new design, the terminal will decrease in size approximately 25 percent by replacing a large amount of unused and outdated space with modern and efficient facilities. The three original concourses will be demolished and consolidated into one convenient, centrally located concourse for all airlines. In addition to the new concourse, the check-in and baggage claim areas will be redesigned. The main lobby space will be renovated but will retain the overall structure and volume of the original design. This portion of the facility is the symbolic heart of the terminal complex and a vital part of the passenger processing operation. In addition, the LFMP will more than double the amount of available airport concessions – yet another tremendous benefit for Love Field Customers.

Terminal 2 Baggage Claim.

Southwest Airlines has been operating from the new Terminal 2. Southwest Airlines previously announced that it would be adding new flights to Baltimore/Washington, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Washington (Reagan) and Chicago (Midway) on October 13, 2014. Southwest also announced that on November 2, 2014, it would add new service to Atlanta, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Los Angeles, New York (LaGuardia), Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County and Tampa. On March 10, 2014, Southwest announced that in 2015, it would add new service to Boston, Oakland, Panama City Beach, Portland (Oregon), and San Jose, California.

Virgin America begins Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington (Reagan National) service on October 13, 2014) followed by New York (LaGuardia) on October 28, 2014.

In the new Terminal 2, Southwest Airlines operates from Gates 1-10, 12, 14, 16, 18-20, On October 1, 2014 United Express will operate from Gates 15 and 17 and Virgin America will operate from Gates 11 and 13.

Read the analysis by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Terminal 1 closes on October 1, 2014.