Airport Love
Virgin America seeks gates at Dallas Love Field for new direct flights
Virgin America is looking to join the post-Wright Amendment world of Dallas Love Field. On March 5, the California-based airline announced plans to add new daily direct flights from Dallas to New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
Virgin hopes to secure two Love Field gates that will be up for grabs in October when American Airlines merges with US Airways. The timing coincides with the expiration of the Wright Amendment, which restricted flights from Love Field since 1979.
"As the last major airline launched in the U.S., we've seen firsthand what happens when new entrant airlines have a chance to come into markets where a few big airlines dominate — service improves and fares drop," Virgin America president and CEO David Cush said in a statement.
If successful, Virgin America would move operations currently at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and offer the following nonstop flights beginning in October:
- DAL to New York's LaGuardia Airport (four round-trip flights a day)
- DAL to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (four round-trip flights a day)
- DAL to Los Angeles International Airport (three round-trip flights a day, expanding to four in 2015)
- DAL to San Francisco International Airport (three round-trip flights a day, expanding to four in 2015)
In early 2015, Virgin would introduce two daily flights to Chicago O'Hare.
"Dallas is a major economic center, and as such, it deserves more business-friendly flight competition from the airport closest to the Central Business District," added Cush. "The opportunity to expand our low-fare, upscale service in Dallas allows us to not only spur fare competition for local consumers, but also provide business travelers with more choice and consistent flight options."
