Senators grilled executives of American Airlines and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport about the need for a federal law restricting flights from a nearby airport that is home to rival Southwest Airlines Co.

A Senate subcommittee heard testimony on the 1979 Wright Amendment, which limits flights from Dallas Love Field to Texas and seven nearby states.

Southwest wants Congress to repeal the law, saying that would lead to lower fares for consumers. But American and DFW Airport favor keeping it, saying that expanding Love Field would undermine DFW and cost thousands of jobs.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and John Ensign, R-Nev., asked American and DFW officials why DFW couldn't coexist with much smaller Love Field if both are allowed to operate long-haul flights.

"Why can't DFW compete like San Francisco does with Oakland, like Miami does with Fort Lauderdale, and like Chicago O'Hare does with Midway?" Ensign asked.

Gerard Arpey, chairman and CEO of American and its parent, AMR Corp., and DFW Airport Chief Operating Officer Kevin Cox said DFW and Love Field are much closer together than those other airport pairs.

Arpey said his airline invested billions of dollars in DFW on the assumption that the Wright Amendment would last forever. Arpey and Cox said local officials decided decades ago it would be best for the regional economy to close Love Field and operate a single strong airport.