Southwest Airways misplaced its year-long lawsuit over the Metropolis of San Antonio’s resolution to go away the airline out of its new $1.4 billion San Antonio Worldwide Airport terminal.
The lawsuit was filed in September 2024 after the town introduced that Delta Airways, American Airways and different worldwide carriers could be housed in Terminal C and Southwest would keep in an getting old Terminal A.
Southwest, which accounted for greater than one-third of the passengers who used San Antonio Airport this yr, is dedicated to SAT by way of a part of 2026, however says they’ll maintain preventing the choice.
In an electronic mail, Southwest stated it will proceed its authorized battle and pursue a separate grievance course of with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Southwest disagrees with the courtroom’s resolution to dismiss the case and we plan to enchantment,” learn a press release from the Dallas-based airline.
U.S. District Court docket Choose Xavier Rodriguez dismissed Southwest’s lawsuit in a choice launched Friday and allowed the town’s proposal to maneuver ahead.
Southwest officers didn’t specify its plans in San Antonio past its present schedule.
“Our schedule at SAT and all airports is out by way of Could 2026 — we don’t speculate on future community adjustments till printed,” wrote Southwest spokesperson Chris Perry in an electronic mail.
Southwest has but to signal on to a 10-year settlement for working on the airport and is due to this fact paying premium charges on a short-term foundation. The airline didn’t touch upon signing onto an settlement sooner or later.
Metropolis officers stated they have been grateful for Rodriguez’s ruling.
“We’re grateful for the Court docket’s ruling and imagine wholeheartedly we acted based on regulation and finest follow,” stated Airport Director Jesus Saenz in an electronic mail. “It stays our objective to make sure that all of our airline companions have the area and amenities to develop their service and achieve success in connecting San Antonio to the world.”
San Antonio is constructing a brand new, 17-gate Terminal C that may embody lounge areas and checkpoints for worldwide vacationers. Southwest officers requested for 10 gates within the new terminal. In courtroom, they stated they have been initially advised they’d be capable to function there and have been neglected within the chilly when metropolis officers introduced they’d keep within the a lot older Terminal A.
The airline stated that call, even with no less than $200 million in proposed metropolis renovations to Terminal A, would stop the airline from increasing operations and implementing future enhancements to its providers in San Antonio.
“This malfeasance will impose grossly unreasonable fees upon Southwest and its prospects for using a substandard, out of date facility,” learn Southwest’s assertion.
In its lawsuit, Southwest argued that the town discriminated in opposition to Southwest by giving different airways an unfair benefit on the new terminal. It additionally stated the town’s actions went in opposition to the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act as a result of airport officers checked out routes and providers when deciding on airways for the brand new terminal.
The Airline Deregulation Act prohibits states and native governments from regulating airways’ routes, charges and providers. When scoring requests for extra gates, metropolis officers included an airline’s path to Washington, D.C., and skill to supply lounge providers.
Town argued that it has the correct to find out which airways finest swimsuit the wants of vacationers and it thought of different elements, like load administration and visitors, when trying on the new terminal.
Rodriguez sided with the town. Southwest describes itself as a low-cost service, he stated, and is due to this fact totally different from American, Delta and United, who have been additionally competing for Terminal C gates.
He added that the town is a market participant on this case, not a regulator. SAT has to compete with different airports for passengers and is making its resolution based mostly on what providers and routes Southwest affords, not forcing Southwest to supply a selected service or route.
The regulation doesn’t cease “a municipal authorities from collaborating out there to function its personal airport during which airways compete to supply the very best costs, routes, and providers to passengers and the airports at which they function,” Rodriguez wrote in his Aug. 29 resolution.
Metropolis officers have been happy with the ruling and have been hopeful that the FAA grievance course of, which is separate from the lawsuit, would additionally go their manner.
After an Aug. 19 listening to in entrance of Rodriguez, metropolis officers additionally denied deceptive Southwest.
When requested about allegations that the town had modified its details, Metropolis Supervisor Erik Walsh flatly stated “we disagree.”
In an electronic mail assertion, Southwest remained defiant forward of its deliberate enchantment.
“We keep that the Metropolis of San Antonio violated quite a few federal necessities whereas making essential selections concerning the deliberate new passenger terminal at San Antonio Worldwide Airport,” learn Southwest’s assertion. “Moreover, the Metropolis has made false and deceptive statements and is impermissibly making an attempt to play favorites amongst its customers based mostly upon its personal subjective and improper preferences.”
Metropolis officers have emphasised that their decisionmaking is group oriented.
“We’re glad the Court docket’s ruling confirms we did the correct factor,” Walsh stated in an electronic mail Tuesday. “As one of many quickest rising cities in America, we stay dedicated to doing what’s finest for San Antonio Worldwide Airport and the tens of millions of passengers that use it every year.”
