Summary

  • Spirit Airlines seeks to operate direct flights between DC and San Jose.
  • Spirit’s proposed route would take one of five newly-opened slots at Reagan National Airport.
  • The tech industry connection between Silicon Valley and DC is the focus of the airline’s new service.

Spirit Airlines is applying to operate direct flights between Reagan National and San Jose after the former airport was granted extra slots as part of the latest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. Several carriers are set to apply for one of five new takeoff and landing slots – which are exempt from the 1,250-mile limit – at the Washington, DC, airport.

Spirit proposes San Jose-Washington route

The ultra-low-cost carrier said in a statement that it would apply to operate a nonstop service between Reagan Washington National (DCA) and San Jose Mineta International (SJC). Noting San Jose as one of the country’s largest cities without a nonstop connection to Washington, DC, it said the route would also deliver more affordable travel options for millions of Bay Area residents.

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320neo taking off.

Photo: Spirit Airlines

Matt Klein, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Spirit Airlines, commented,

“Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., share significant ties in the technology industry. New nonstop flights between the airports that sit at the heart of these two communities would make travel easier and foster opportunity for better collaboration between these influential markets.”

What is notable about this route is that it clocks in at around 2,500 miles, which is double DCA’s perimeter limit of 1,250 miles. Spirit Airlines has been at SJC for less than a year now after launching an initial three routes last June – Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas and San Diego – and is due to commence another three routes next month, with Baltimore, Los Angeles and Portland joining its network.

Related

Senate Passes FAA Bill Adding 5 Flights From Reagan National Airport Longer Than 1,250-Mile Limit

The move could help to increase the availability of longer routes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Tech connection

San Jose is at the center of the global tech industry, home to the likes of Adobe, Cisco, eBay and PayPal. Should Spirit’s request receive approval, this would be the country’s only nonstop route between its capital Washington, DC and Silicon Valley. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said,

“In today’s digital age, there is perhaps no place more important for our national leaders to access than the capital of Silicon Valley. San José is home to the experts and entrepreneurs at the forefront of AI, data privacy and CHIPs Act implementation who are writing the code for the future and establishing best practices to navigate that future.”

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 landing at Orlando International Airport MCO shutterstock_1537700198

Photo: VIAVAL TOURS | Shutterstock

Other airlines in the mix for new slots at DCA include Southwest Airlines, which announced on Monday it would be applying for flights between Las Vegas, as well as American Airlines – which has proposed a service between San Antonio – and an Alaska Airlines flight between San Diego. The proposal to add the five slots at DCA led to significant pushback from a group of senators, who argued that it would be a safety risk at an airport already congested. The FAA will have 60 days to review applications before making a decision.

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