DOT weighs destinations for new flight routes approved by Congress from Reagan airport

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be getting five new long-haul flights added to its schedule months after Congress authorized the additional slots, to the chagrin of local officials.

The public comment period for the proposed new slots was Wednesday, with the Department of Transportation set to announce which airlines will be awarded the slots in a “timely manner,” according to Axios.

Eight airlines have proposed new flights beyond the typical 1,250-mile radius in which most flights departing Reagan National are typically limited.

The big three airlines have all proposed flights. American Airlines, which uses Reagan National as a hub, has proposed a flight to San Antonio, Texas, while United Airlines, which operates a hub out of nearby Dulles International Airport, has proposed a flight to San Francisco, California. Delta Air Lines has requested permission to operate a flight to Seattle, Washington.

Other airlines hoping to get one of the spots include Southwest Airlines, seeking a flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Alaska Airlines, for a flight to San Diego, California. JetBlue and Frontier Airlines are each proposing flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Spirit Airlines wants a flight to San Jose, California.

Opponents of the increased flights out of Reagan National, including the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority and the Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports, have stressed that the additional flights could lead to more congestion, delays, and safety concerns, for what is already regarded as one of the busiest runways in the United States.

Those who favor more slots, including the Capital Access Alliance, argue that the airport can safely handle more flights during non-peak times and that the added flights could help lower prices for flights in the area out of Reagan National and Dulles.