Opposition grows against adding flights to Reagan National Airport
Lawmakers push for longer flights at Reagan National Airport
Lawmakers from Virginia, and Maryland teamed up Monday to knock down a plan to add more and longer flights at Reagan National Airport. Congress is floating a plan to give people the ability to fly to more places from DCA, but local officials say that would ruin the airport. FOX 5’s Tom Fitzgerald has the story.
WASHINGTON - D.C. area lawmakers are calling on Congress not to change the slot and perimeter rules at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the upcoming reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Congress is considering adding long-distance flights to Reagan, which currently has a 1,250-mile limit for nonstop service. Supporters say adding flights would make it easier for people to visit D.C.
But opponents argue that changes to the rules would disrupt the balance among the region’s airports, and changes would threaten jobs, economic growth and other investments in the area.
Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will hold a press conference Monday.
The FAA issued a memo in May, saying that adding long-distance flights to Reagan's schedule would strain the system, with DCA already ranking as the 10th most delayed airport in the country.