Delta Air Lines is eyeing Dallas Love Field, the stronghold of rival Southwest Airlines, for an expansion.
Atlanta-based Delta said it wants to add 18 daily flights to Love Field next October, including two more flights to Atlanta and new service to New York LaGuardia, Los Angeles, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The announcement comes as Delta lobbies for the right to bid on gates at Love Field. In order to add the flights, Delta said it would need more access to gates at Love Field. Two gates at Love Field must be given up by American Airlines in its proposed merger with US Airways, based on an antitrust suit settlement the carriers recently reached with the U.S. Justice Department.
Southwest last year began flying to Atlanta, where Delta has its largest hub. At Love Field, Southwest controls 16 of the 20 gates. Flight operations at Love Field have been limited because of restrictions under an unusual federal law. The restrictions end in October 2014.
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