Interesting that DCA and LGA still retain slot restrictions AND perimeter rules. Seems that by limiting the number of flights via slots they're addressing the effect of trans-perimeter flights by default. While I'm not a "slot fan" it may be a decent interim compromise to the WA. By limiting flight activity through federally-allocated slots (such as is done at JFK, LGA, DCA, and ORD), there would be no need to alter the Love Field Master Plan. Let the airlines determine where they want to go with their 250 flts/day. This would eliminate both the arcane geographical restrictions, the simply wierd 56-seat exception, and the through-ticketing limitations. The catch: all restrictions will sunset in 5 years and full deregulation will take effect.
There's a big reason why LGA and DCA are slot restricted. Congestion. They got rid of slots for RJs at LGA very briefly, with plans to open it completely up, and the place turned into an absolute parking lot. Look at what's happened to ORD since they got rid of slots there, too; they've had to revert it to basically now having de facto slot controls.
The government has made a large number of new slots available to new entrants at both airports. There's just no room for any more without delays getting totally out of hand.
The perimeter rule, I agree, is a different story, and the large slot holders have been lobbying for years to have it removed at both airports.
I don't think it would be necessary to implement slots at DAL, as from what I understand, congestion wouldn't be a problem. There, it really would be nothing more than an artificial constraint on growth.
My point is they are all artifical limits to competition.
They LGA and DCA rules used to limit to west of the Mississippi which was obvious to protect
the politicaly connected east coast airlines. At some point in time DFW (AA) had enough clout to get that changed, but you still can't fly LGA/DCA to DEN, PHX or the west coast which is equally as dumb, no?
LGA-DEN is allowed, as it was grandfathered in.
There have also been 24 beyond-perimeter slot exemptions (12 roundtrips) given out for DCA in recent years, thanks almost entirely to Sen. McCain wanting to help out America West. They are held by America West (3x PHX, 1x LAS), Frontier (3x DEN), Alaska (2x SEA, 1x LAX), Delta (1x SLC), United (1x DEN). Of course, their limited number means the airlines get nice revenue premiums for these routes.
I never was a big fan of that, as they were clearly given out to the DOT's (and the politicians') favorites, and not allocated fairly to the airlines or the communities. I think the perimeter rule should be all-or-none, not pick and choose who gets exceptions.