The start date for a trial featuring Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the City of Dallas over gate space at Dallas Love Field has been pushed back again.
The trial, previously scheduled to start in May, has been pushed to the court’s docket beginning Sept. 14 later this year, according to an order from U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade. This is the latest in what has been a series of trial push backs as the sides negotiate a settlement.
Delta has been flying five daily flights out of Love Field to Atlanta for years on a Southwest Airlines gate. The coronavirus has recently taken an unprecedented toll on commercial aviation as demand wanes and load factors plummet.
The court case has seen many twists and turns since the dispute started. Southwest has long wanted Delta off its gate, claiming the Atlanta-based carrier is trespassing. Delta says it not only wants to continue flying its five daily flights, but wants eight more out of Love Field.
Fearing retaliation from whatever side ended up losing the dispute, the city of Dallas, which owns Love Field, sued all parties involved and asked the court to decide what to do.
Alaska Airlines, which leases two gates at Love Field, has also been dragged into the case. Dallas said Alaska is underutilizing its gates as it has shifted service to smaller regional jets, and suggested Delta fly on Alaska’s gates. Unsurprisingly, Alaska was not keen on the idea of giving its competitor space on its own gates.
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