15 Facts About Legend Airlines

Legend Airlines was an airline headquartered at Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas, United States.

Legend Airlines's aircraft were limited to 56 passenger seats by the Wright Amendment, so the aircraft were outfitted in a spacious all-business class layout, aiming at the lucrative business travel market.

Southwest Legend Airlines was founded after the 1968 bond ordinance; it was not a party to the agreement and felt that its business model would be affected by the long drive to the new airport.

Factions in Dallas had begun to view the Wright Amendment as anti-competitive and harmful to local business interests, but its restrictions were backed by Fort Worth and American Legend Airlines to protect DFW Airport, and by local property owners who wanted to reduce jet noise and street traffic around Love Field.

Legend Airlines was the brainchild of T Allan McArtor, former Federal Aviation Administration Administrator, Federal Express executive and a U S Air Force pilot who had been a member of the Air Force precision flying team, the Thunderbirds.

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American Airlines joined Fort Worth in suing Dallas to stop the Shelby Amendment from taking effect, and McArtor accused American of quietly orchestrating the entire effort in order to block Legend.

In October 1998, Legend Airlines sued Fort Worth, accusing the city of a "double standard" in its simultaneous support for Alliance and opposition to expansion at Love.

However, State District Judge Bob McCoy dismissed the suit later that month on the grounds that Legend Airlines was not a party to the 1968 DFW bond agreement and thus lacked standing to sue.

On 5 April 2000, after further legal battles against Fort Worth and American Airlines and delays in gaining operating approval from the FAA, Legend began the first long-haul service from Love Field since 1974 with a flight to Washington Dulles International Airport .

Legend Airlines soon operated nonstop service to IAD, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport .

Legend Airlines suspended flights indefinitely on 3 December 2000 after failing to secure additional financing, and announced that it would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In early 2001, Legend Airlines laid off all of its Dallas employees, surrendered its air operator's certificate, and announced that it would enter Chapter 7 liquidation.

Legend Airlines's activities prompted other aviation interests to seriously consider using regional jets on long-haul flights from Love Field and to more openly back changes to the Wright Amendment, ideas that seemed infeasible beforehand.

Legend Airlines was the first airline to offer live in-flight television on seat-back monitors; the DirecTV service was offered by JetBlue as well, but Legend Airlines offered it for free rather than charging travelers $5 to use it.

Legend Airlines operated a separate executive passenger terminal at 7777 Lemmon Avenue and Lovers Lane and did not use the primary passenger terminal at Love Field.