Longtime law expires, new long-haul flights take wing in Dallas on Southwest, Virgin America

A new era and increased competition has begun in air travel in the Dallas area.

Limits on flights at Dallas Love Field expired Monday after more than three decades, and Southwest Airlines Co. and Virgin America launched new long-haul service.

For Southwest, it means going head-to-head with American Airlines, which flies all over the country and overseas from nearby Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. For Virgin America, it means moving from DFW to Love Field and having better odds at the smaller airport.