The Transportation Department has tentatively awarded room for five new daily long-haul flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to five of the nation's biggest airlines. This decision aims to provide more options to travelers flying between Washington and major Western cities such as San Francisco and Seattle.
Reagan National Airport, known for its proximity to downtown Washington and easy access via the Metro subway, is a preferred choice for many travelers over Dulles International Airport. Flights longer than 1,250 miles to Reagan National are limited by federal law, but recent approval from Congress has opened up opportunities for additional daily round trips.
The winning airlines and their planned routes are as follows:
- Alaska Airlines: Service to and from San Diego International Airport
- American Airlines: Service to and from San Antonio International Airport in Texas
- Delta: Service to and from Seattle Tacoma International Airport
- Southwest Airlines: Service to and from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
- United Airlines: Service to and from San Francisco International Airport
JetBlue Airways' bid to add another flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was rejected by the Transportation Department. Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines were deemed ineligible as the contest was limited to carriers already operating flights at Reagan National.
These new flights will supplement the current limited long-haul flight options to Reagan National from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver.
