Summary

  • Seven airlines, including American and Delta, are eligible to apply for new flights at DCA.
  • Increased competition may lead to more connectivity and lower ticket prices for passengers.
  • The process of awarding the new flights will be completed by July according to new law requirements.

The fight for new flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is about to heat up, with the US Transportation Department revealing the names of the seven airlines eligible to apply. The carriers have been given a July deadline to submit their applications, and the new flights will be awarded soon after.

Seven airlines selected to apply for new DCA flights

The US Transportation Department has produced a list of seven major airlines that are eligible to apply for five new flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Six of these are from the US and one from Canada. These are:

  1. American Airlines
  2. Delta Air Lines
  3. United Airlines
  4. Southwest Airlines
  5. JetBlue
  6. Air Canada
  7. Alaska Airlines
Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at DAL
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The carriers have been given a deadline of July 8 to apply and July 17 to submit any comments on the applications. The process of awarding the new flights won’t take very long after that, as the new law requires these flights to be assigned by July. According to a report by Reuters, the US Department of Transportation is also advising airlines “to provide no more than one backup service proposal in their application.”

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.

What have the airlines planned?

Delta Air Lines has been quite vocal about adding more flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and has significantly lobbied for a change, a move opposed by United. Delta is ready to compete with Alaska Airlines and plans to start a new flight between Seattle and Reagan if successful in its application.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 landing in Fort Lauderdale.

Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock

American wants to increase connectivity to Texas and plans to start a new daily flight between San Antonio and Washington, while Southwest will apply for a daily service between Washington and Las Vegas, which currently is served by a daily American Airlines flight.

Alaska Airlines is eyeing a daily flight to Reagan from San Diego after carefully studying the passenger demand for the route and realizing that it is the largest market without nonstop flights to the DC airport.

More competition

The Washington region is served by three airports. However, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has an advantage for being the closest to the US Capitol and downtown. But that convenience comes at a cost.

DCA has short runways and also has a perimeter rule in place since 1966 that restricts longer flights beyond a certain distance. This makes many services out of the airport more expensive for passengers.

Several American Airlines aircraft parked at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Photo: Daniel J. Macy | Shutterstock

The perimeter rule started with restricting flight lengths to 650 miles from DCA. This increased to 1,000 miles in 1981 and eventually to 1,250 miles five years later. Exceptions have been granted for some flights over the years, but the airport largely sees shorter flights in comparison to other airports.

Related

Southwest Airlines Plans To Apply For New Nonstop Service Between Reagan National Airport & Las Vegas

Officials say the proposed service would influence Nevada’s tourism scene and increase access to the West Coast.

When authorities make room for more flights beyond 1,250 miles, airlines make a beeline, realizing just how precious the opportunity is and the demand for such flights. Hopefully, the latest move will help increase competition and lower ticket prices for flights to and from DCA.

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