Monday marked a huge day for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines with the expiration of the Wright Amendment.
The amendment restricted where flights with a certain number of passengers could fly from Dallas Love Field; most commercial flights were restricted to traveling only to bordering states.
With the expiration of that amendment Monday, the first nonstop Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Denver took off at 6:40 a.m.
The obvious change passengers will see is more flights. Along with nonstop flights to Dallas, Southwest will also be offering nonstop flights to Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Passenger Britt Smith planned two weeks in advance to be the first passenger on the Denver flight Monday morning.
"I am just here to fly from Dallas to Denver, and then I have to turn around and go to Houston for business, but I just wanted to celebrate that we are on the very first flight out," said Smith.
Many people worked for decades on eliminating the Wright Amendment. Many of them came to Dallas Love Field on Monday to celebrate.
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"It's nirvana for me," said Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher. "It's heaven because I have been waiting and working to get Love Field freed up for many decades."
"I think this has worked out very well in the exact right way," said former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. "The lead up has been very measured, organized, and I think everyone is going to benefit."
Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said they expect the number of people traveling from Dallas Love Field to nearly double with the Wright Amendment gone.
"You will see a lot more travelers in and out of North Texas as a consequence of the increase in competition," said Kelly. "We were real proud of that."
Kelly said they plan to keep Southwest Airlines ticket prices low, and continue to no charge fees for luggage.
Everyone at Southwest said the end of the Wright Amendment is the beginning of great things for travel in Dallas.
"I am delighted," said Kelleher. "I am overjoyed. I couldn't be happier."
Southwest Airlines will add eight more nonstop flights on Nov. 2 to New York, Nashville, San Diego, Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, and Orange County, California.
