As airlines fight over gates at Dallas airport, city wades in to sue US and several carriers

The city of Dallas is asking a federal court to settle a long-running fight over which airlines can operate out of the local airport.

Under a federal law that stood for more than 30 years, airlines at Love Field could only fly to other places in Texas or a few nearby states unless they used very small planes. Those limits expired in October, setting off a land rush for airlines.

The city filed a lawsuit this week against two federal agencies and six airlines.

Southwest Airlines Co. controls 18 of 20 gates at the city-owned airport. Delta Air Lines Inc. operates five flights from one of those Southwest gates under a deal that expires July 6. Delta wants to add more flights, but Southwest wants its gate back.