David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday that seven major airlines are eligible to apply for five new daily round-trip flights from Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
On May 16, President Joe Biden signed legislation opening new flights at the busy airport in Arlington, Virginia, near the nation’s capital. Applications must be submitted by July 8, and comments on applications must be submitted by July 17.
American Airlines (NASDAQ:), Delta Air Lines (N:), United Airlines, Southwest Airlines (NYSE:), JetBlue, Air Canada and Alaska Airlines are eligible to apply, the Department of Transportation said.
The U.S. Transportation Department said it encourages airlines to “submit no more than one proposal for standby services in their applications,” citing a law requiring new flights to begin by mid-July.
There are three major airports in the Washington region, but Reagan National is closest to the U.S. Capitol and downtown. Due to its short runways, its main runway is the busiest in the country. Based on passenger traffic, Reagan is the 23rd busiest airport in the United States.
Delta previously said it would apply for a new flight between Seattle and Reagan and, if successful, would compete with Alaska Airlines, which currently operates two daily flights between the airports.
Delta lobbied hard for the change and pushed for more daily flights, while United opposed it.
Southwest said it would apply for a new daily flight between Washington and Las Vegas, which American Airlines operates just one flight per day.
American wants to launch a new daily flight between San Antonio and Washington, D.C., that would connect the seventh-largest US city with the D.C. airport.
Alaska wants a new daily flight to Reagan from San Diego, its largest market without direct flights to the D.C. airport.