US says seven airways eligible to use for brand new every day Washington flights By Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Division stated on Monday that seven main airways are eligible to use for 5 new every day roundtrip flights from Washington Reagan Nationwide airport.

On Might 16, President Joe Biden signed laws creating the brand new flights on the busy airport in Arlington, Virginia, exterior the nation’s capital. Functions have to be filed by July 8 and feedback on functions have to be submitted by July 17.

American Airways (NASDAQ:), Delta Air Strains (N:), United Airways, Southwest Airways (NYSE:), JetBlue, Air Canada and Alaska Airways are eligible to use, the Transportation Division stated.

USDOT stated it inspired airways “to offer no multiple backup service proposal of their functions,” citing the regulation requiring the brand new flights to start by mid-July.

The Washington area has three main airports, however Reagan Nationwide is the closest to the U.S. Capitol and downtown. Due to its quick runways, its fundamental runway is the busiest within the nation. By passengers, Reagan is the Twenty third-busiest U.S. airport.

Delta stated earlier it might apply for a brand new flight between Seattle and Reagan and if profitable would compete with Alaska Airways which operates the 2 present every day flights between the airports.

Delta closely lobbied for the change – and had pushed for including much more every day flights – whereas United opposed it.

Southwest stated it’s going to apply for a brand new every day flight between Washington and Las Vegas, which has just one flight per day on American Airways.

American desires to begin a brand new every day flight between San Antonio and Washington, which might join the seventh-largest U.S. metropolis to the DC airport.

Alaska desires a brand new every day flight to Reagan from San Diego, the most important market with out direct flights to the DC airport.