Fight to add more long-haul flights into DC-area Reagan airport heats up

A Coalition of Business Groups is Fighting for More Long-Haul Flights at Reagan National Airport

The coalition, known as Capital Access Alliance, is proposing that lawmakers alter the perimeter requirements at Reagan as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. The group, which includes Delta Air Lines, is encouraging Congress to increase the number of flights by as many as 25 daily trips. They argue that large cities like San Antonio and San Diego, the nation’s seventh- and eighth-largest cities, respectively, don’t have any nonstop flights from Reagan.

The Benefits of More Long-Haul Flights

• Reduced ticket prices for passengers
• Millions of dollars in economic growth
• Additional federal and state revenue
• Improved air service reliability at Reagan

The coalition released a study by Boston Consulting Group that found the addition of long-haul flights could benefit all airlines equally. However, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, which operates Dulles and Reagan, came out against easing perimeter restrictions at Reagan. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine issued a joint statement strongly opposing attempts to change the perimeter rules, pointing out that lawmakers have already carved out exemptions for a small number of flights to cities like Phoenix, Austin, Seattle, and Denver.

Despite opposition from some lawmakers, advocates for relaxing the perimeter rules believe they are in place to protect big airlines like United and American Airlines, which have a large number of nonstop flights from both airports to the West Coast. “If you’re opposing changes to the perimeter rule and more flights to and from DCA, you’re effectively opposing hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue for the DMV region,” said coalition spokesman Brian Walsh.

Lawmakers from outside Washington on both sides of the aisle are coming out in support of relaxing the perimeter requirements. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes San Antonio, has been fighting for a direct flight to Reagan, arguing that the military presence in the area makes the route necessary. At a recent House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Rep. Veronica Escobar called for an exemption through the FAA for the perimeter rule, pushing for nonstop flights between El Paso and Reagan.

While there are concerns about traffic and whether the airport has enough space for more passengers, a 2021 report by the Government Accountability Office noted that allowing more long-distance nonstop flights could allow larger aircraft to operate and increase passengers. The report did not take a stance on whether the perimeter rule should stay in place.

Overall, the coalition believes that expanding the number of long-distance flights at Reagan could have significant benefits for passengers, airlines, and the local economy. “Why lawmakers would take the position to protect a single big airline from competition is hard to understand,” said Walsh. “But hopefully they will reconsider their opposition.”