With the passage of the new FAA bill in May, Reagan National Airport (DCA) will soon add five new long-distance flights. Reagan National operates on a slot system which limits the number of flights allowed to arrive and depart from the airport each day. DCA has also operated under a perimeter rule since 1966, restricting airlines to operate flights no longer than 1,250 miles from the airport. As a result, longer transcontinental flights have traditionally operated out of Washington Dulles, the larger of the two airports in the region. The scheduling of these routes is expected to be announced soon.
The DOT tenatively has awarded the five new slots to the below airlines and cities:
- American Airlines to San Antonio, TX
- Alaska Airlines to San Diego, CA
- Delta Air Lines to Seattle, WA
- Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas, NV
- United Airlines to San Francisco, CA