By Jeffrey Dastin
(Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest will allow Delta to continue operating five daily flights between Love Field and Atlanta, according to the spokeswoman. The agreement averts potential havoc for customers, with a gate-sharing arrangement between the carriers set to expire on July 6.
The two airlines had scheduled overlapping flights from identical gates at the space-constrained airport. The conflict has drawn in city and federal officials, with the city of Dallas suing the carriers last week for placing it in a bind.
In a court filing Tuesday, Delta said it has sold almost 20,000 tickets to Love Field through May 2016 and that a mass cancellation would "cause significant harm to Delta's operations."
Southwest holds 18 of 20 gates at Love Field, its headquarters. It has planned to ramp up flights from Love Field in August, contingent upon regaining all takeoff and arrival slots from Delta.
Southwest could not immediately comment on Delta's temporary accommodation. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the customers it booked in slots Delta will now use.
Delta has 45 daily flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport but wants a foothold at Love Field, which some travelers prefer for its renovated terminal and proximity to downtown Dallas. It has petitioned to add eight flights in addition to the five it operates currently.
The spat is part of a larger fight for passengers in the Dallas market that has investors concerned that airlines will discount fares and hurt revenues because of a surge of flights from the city.
(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
