Delta loses its bid for gate at Dallas' Love Field
The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that Delta Air Lines is "not an appropriate divestiture candidate" for gates and slots at Dallas Love Field that American Airlines is required to give up as part of its settlement agreement to win approval for its merger with US Airways.
American has to give up two gates at Love Field, one of which Delta leases to provide flights to Atlanta. Delta argued that it should be allowed to bid on those two gates so it could increase service to other cities out of Love Field once the Wright Amendment restrictions are lifted in October.
In its filing, the Justice Department said the purpose of the Love Field divestiture is to attract a "low-cost carrier" to the airport and provide more competition for the newly merged American Airlines, which flies out of its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Last year, Delta said it would add 18 daily nonstop flights from Love Field to its hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul if it won the gates. Southwest Airlines, which controls most of the traffic at Love Field, and Virgin America are also bidding for the gates.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
