Washington's DCA Airport Is About to Be More Connected Than Ever

17.10.2024 - 21:15 / cntraveler.com / Gary Leff / Ron Nirenberg / Condé Nast-Traveler

Washington DC's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the most convenient gateway to the US capital, only a quick metro ride away from downtown DC.

But unlike other major US airports, travelers rarely see new long-haul flight routes being added at DCA. That's because the US Department of Transportation (DOT) prohibits airlines from flying from Reagan to destinations beyond 1,250 miles—unless they are granted something called a “beyond perimeter exemption.”

On October 16, however, the DOT tentatively approved the following five new long-distance flight routes from DCA, an agency spokesperson confirmed with Condé Nast Traveler:

The DCA slot exemptions were granted by the DOT as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Congress required that the selected routes would either (1) provide nonstop service to beyond-perimeter airports that do not already have direct flights to DCA, or (2) have a positive impact on competition in markets with existing nonstop service to DCA.

But why does this DOT rule even exist? “The original perimeter rule was meant in part to shift long-haul flying to newly-opened Washington Dulles airport and also was supported by local groups who didn’t like the noise at the close-in airport," explains Gary Leff, an aviation expert and Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist. “From 1966 to 1980 the limit was 650 miles. Then from 1981 to 1986 it was 1000 miles.”

Prior to this week's decision, the federal government had approved three rounds of perimeter exemptions at DCA over the past 20 years. Today, DCA has 20 round-trip flights a day to destinations farther than 1250 miles from the airport, Leff says. This does not include the five new slots, which have yet to launch.

Once the DOT grants its final approval, the five new DCA flights will greatly increase connectivity between Washington DC and the West Coast. The new Alaska Airlines route will be the only nonstop flight between DCA and San Diego, and the American Airlines route will offer the only direct service between DCA and San Antonio, Texas.

“Today marks a significant milestone for San Antonio as we get one step closer to securing a nonstop flight between SAT and DCA,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement. “This connectivity between San Antonio and our nation’s capital is long overdue and will benefit our community in many ways.”

Receiving these rare exceptions from the DOT requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work by US airlines and politicians. “Leadership from all industry sectors and communities across the San Diego region have spoken up in support of nonstop air service between DCA and SAN,” Kimberly J. Becker, President and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority said in a news