statement

BTC Supports Wright Amendment Legislation

RADNOR PA., July 14, 2006–The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) today issued the following Statement regarding proposed legislation, S.3661, introduced by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and crafted to settle the current Wright Amendment controversy.

BTC Statement

BTC supports the recent Wright Amendment-related agreement spearheaded by the mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth and endorses S.3661. This proposed legislation represents the desire, intent and right of North Texas communities to plan for and strategically invest in commercial air services infrastructure for their benefit. What’s more, there are adequate safeguards built into the legislation to ensure that the solution is a permanent one.

BTC’s April 10, 2006 report on the Wright Amendment controversy focused strictly on the question of what outcome would most benefit consumers. BTC’s finding in this regard was full-fledged, system-wide competition at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport between Southwest Airlines and all other airlines. In our view, though, this agreement, as embodied in S.3661, has met the two critically important requirements of a truly local solution and a permanent resolution to what has been an ongoing and contentious controversy.