DC-area senators caution that the DCA perimeter dispute may cause delays in passing the FAA reauthorization bill.

Lawmakers Rally Against Proposal to Expand Flights at Reagan National Airport

Lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia are vehemently opposing a proposal to add new long-distance flights in and out of Reagan National Airport. They are warning that this issue could potentially delay the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill.

During a press conference at the airport on Monday, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) expressed his concerns, stating, “When this gets inserted into the FAA, it just delays getting an FAA reauthorization bill done, and there are so many other equities in that bill that have to get done for the safety of the entire American public that flies and all the personnel.”

The Perimeter Rule and Exemptions

The main point of contention is the perimeter rule, which currently limits the number of flights that travel more than 1,250 miles from DCA (Reagan National Airport). Both Reagan and Dulles International Airport are owned by the federal government, giving Congress the power to decide their operations. Over the years, lawmakers have made exceptions to allow a small number of flights beyond the 1,250-mile limit, including flights to cities like Phoenix, Austin, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Denver. In 2012, the FAA reauthorization allowed for an additional 16 flights beyond the perimeter.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) has pointed out that previous attempts to change the rules have resulted in delays to FAA reauthorization bills. He stated, “History has shown that in 2018, when this issue was not litigated, we got an FAA bill very quickly. Back in 2009, it took us an extra four to five years before we ended up with an FAA bill.”

Amendment and Disputes

Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and ranking member Ted Cruz (R-TX) have made a deal to introduce an amendment that would allow the airport four more slots beyond the perimeter rule. However, the amendment still needs a vote in the Commerce Committee, which has been delayed due to an ongoing dispute on a different issue. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has already released its version of the FAA reauthorization bill, which does not include the proposed amendment.

Strained Airport and Capacity Concerns

Lawmakers from the Washington area argue that the airport is already strained by traffic and noise disruption. They point to an internal FAA memo that states an increase of 20 daily round-trip operations would cause a 25.9% increase in delays, and an increase of 25 daily roundtrip operations would result in a 33.2% increase in delays at DCA.

The Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports, which includes members like United Airlines and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, also argues that the main runway at DCA is the busiest in the nation and lacks the capacity to handle more flights. Jack Potter, CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, stated, “We do not have the capacity to handle this without constraints being thrust upon our neighbors and our passengers.”

Conflicting Views and Future Implications

The Capital Access Alliance, a coalition of business groups including Delta Airlines, disagrees with the congestion concerns raised in the FAA memo. They argue that congestion is not a problem during certain parts of the day and expanding the number of long-distance flights at Reagan could lead to reduced ticket prices, economic growth, and increased federal and state revenue.

However, Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the coalition, criticized the opposition, saying, “They seem to be more focused on protecting the interests of United Airlines than standing up and protecting passengers who are flying in and out of these airports.”

The senators emphasized that they would not support an FAA reauthorization bill that includes any proposal to expand the perimeter, even if it is a modest change. Senator Kaine rhetorically questioned, “If the deal that was supposedly announced, you do a deal that’s partial, then the next time, it’s going to be another add on, right?”

The senators anticipate a challenging fight this year as they engage in a messaging war with lobbyists, interest groups, and even fellow lawmakers who are seeking more flight options at the airport closest to the nation’s capital to avoid inconvenient connecting flights. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) stated, “We’ve made it clear that we want to work constructively as we always have with an FAA reauthorization. But, their decision to insert this issue into that bill will cause delay.”

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