Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has a unique opportunity to attract more customers while boosting the District of Columbia metropolitan area. However, maintaining its outdated slot and perimeter rule risks jeopardizing its regional standing as a transportation powerhouse.
Frequent D.C. fliers could benefit from having more long-distance flight choices.
Since 1966, Reagan National has limited long-haul flights — originally 650 miles, then increased to 1,250 miles in 1986 — landing and taking off from the airport. The 2023 Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill, up for consideration in September, contains a reasonable bipartisan provision to add 28 more in-perimeter and beyond-perimeter flights. In can weigh in since Congress created the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the body overseeing Reagan National and Dulles International airports. Congress’s decision will determine whether Reagan National will be able to compete.
The airport shouldn’t continue to settle for “short-haul” airport status by ceding that advantage to Dulles. Both can accommodate market demand while equally servicing their communities. Reagan National adding more long-haul flights, exceeding 1,250 miles, hasn’t undercut Dulles’ growth and won’t — even with continued expansion.