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Delta Air Lines announced today that it’s joining the mix of carriers requesting one of the five slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The new flights added will each span over 1,250 miles and this is now possible thanks to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill that was approved recently. The appeal of the airport is that it is much closer to the city than the other DC-area airports and therefore has greater appeal for politicians and tourists alike.
The perimeter rule was introduced in January 1966. It limited flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to 1,250 miles or less. The thought was that longhaul flights would operate out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and noise pollution would be reduced for DC residents. This is similar to the perimeter rule at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) that was introduced in 1984 and limits flights to 1,500 miles or less. There are exceptions on Saturdays and to/from Denver International Airport (DEN) every day.
American Airlines intends to launch a new route from Washington D.C. (DCA) to San Antonio (SAT).
SAT Airport has announced a partnership with American to establish the route with one of DCA’s new beyond-perimeter slots coming from the FAA reauthorization bill.
The new slots are… pic.twitter.com/fzp9wNDVr0
— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) May 15, 2024
🔴 Alaska Airlines plans to launch a new route from San Diego (SAN) to Washington D.C. (DCA), pending approval from the FAA reauthorization bill and slot allocation by the DOT. #Airways #News pic.twitter.com/cQHguXJhks
— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) May 16, 2024
So far, we”ve heard that the following routes are being considered:
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) (Southwest) (more here)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT) (American Airlines) (more here)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) (Alaska Airlines)
Delta’s President, Glen Hauenstein, made the announcement at a press conference to launch Delta’s inaugural nonstop flight to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), which is the airline’s return to Taiwan as it last flew there in 2017. Hauenstein said:
Seattle is a crucial hub for Delta. With today’s Taipei launch, we are further solidifying Seattle’s role as our leading Pacific gateway. And by adding a direct flight to our nation’s capital in Washington, DC, Seattle customers will have the additional competition and choice they deserve.”
Delta celebrated its 90th anniversary in Seattle in December 2023. Its operations date back to Northwest Airways (later Northwest Airlines) in 1933. The airline now employs 3,000 employees and operates around 170 peak-day departures from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to more than 50 destinations worldwide.
Anthony’s Take: We’ll see who gets awarded slots and what new destinations come to the airport. DC-area residents have a lot to be excited about here.
(Featured Image Credit: Delta Air Lines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
