NEW CALLS TO ADD MORE LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS AT DCA; SOME AIRLINES AND CONGRESSMEN VOICE OPPOSITION TO EXPANSION
June 14, 2023
Earlier this month a group of businesses known as the “Capital Access Alliance” introduced a new plan seeking to add long-haul flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). As background, under a current federal rule known as the DCA “Perimeter Rule”, only a limited number of nonstop long-haul flights, or flights over 1,250 miles, are allowed to operate out of DCA. Because of the rule, DCA has primarily served as a short-haul airport while nearby Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) served as the region’s “long-haul growth airport.” The plan immediately received opposition from several U.S. Congressmen, airlines and airline groups, and local residents, arguing against the expansion based on concerns that it would negatively affect IAD’s operations, that DCA would likely be unable to handle the influx of passengers and operations, and that the expansion could lead to more noise and congestion in the region. On May 18th, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (“MWAA”), which oversees DCA and IAD, issued a report on the proposals to expand long-haul flights at DCA in which MWAA also noted its opposition to changing the Perimeter Rule because in its view the change would likely negatively impact operations due to a number of factors.
Despite the opposition the plan received, on May 10th, Congressmen from Utah and Georgia officially introduced a bill called the “Direct Capital Access Act” (or the “DCA Act”) that seeks to add 28 new long-haul flights at DCA. Arguments in support of the bill include the need for more competition and lower flight costs in the D.C. region given the surge in travel demand, creation of more jobs, and that the Perimeter Rule may no longer serve its original purpose. The bill is also believed to be appealing to many Congressmen, especially those from states outside of DCA’s 1,250 perimeter, given the fact that DCA is the closest airport to the Capitol and more direct long-haul flights would allow them to get home easier. Since the DCA Act was just recently introduced, it has not yet been acted on by Congress, but we will continue to provide updates on the bill’s progress as we receive them.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6665.
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