Southwest Airways is amongst a crowded discipline of bidders searching for to realize one of many 5 coveted, new long-distance terminal slots at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC. If it wins one of many routes, Southwest says it’s going to use it to attach the nation’s capital with Las Vegas.
A aircraft operated by Southwest Airways arrives in Washington, D.C., at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport. Southwest is searching for a slot on the regional airport for direct service to Las Vegas. (Picture: Reuters)
President Joe Biden earlier this month signed the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Reauthorization Act of 2024. The federal statute permits DCA to extend the variety of long-distance flights from 40 to 45.
Southwest hopes to land one of many handful of recent long-distance choices at DCA to attach with Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS).
Southwest has a protracted historical past of connecting folks throughout the nation with vital moments of their lives by aggressive airfares, pleasant and versatile insurance policies, and the unrivaled hospitality of our folks,” Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan mentioned in a launch. “We consider Southwest’s proposed new DCA-LAS nonstop service will decrease fares and enhance entry for the nation’s capital, Las Vegas, and western states.”
At present, solely American Airways gives direct nonstop service from DCA to LAS.
DCA Restrictions
After Washington’s Dulles Worldwide Airport opened in November 1962, Congress moved to make Regan a regional airport. The federal authorities, searching for to cut back noise and air pollution over the nation’s capital attributable to bigger jets, positioned a restriction that restricted flights from DCA to not more than 500 miles.
The perimeter has been prolonged over the many years to its present 1,250-mile restrict. There have additionally been slot exceptions — 40 earlier than Biden’s signing of the 2024 measure final week — that permit airways to fly additional than the cap.
These exemptions are among the many most sought-after slots within the airline business, as DCA is wildly common with residents within the capital and surrounding metro area for its comfort. DCA has historically include costly fares, nonetheless, as demand is excessive.
American gained its DCA perimeter exception it makes use of for Las Vegas in 2000. The airline faces no competitors for direct nonstop service to the on line casino hub out of DCA. Southwest, in addition to Nevada’s Democratic U.S. Sen Jacky Rosen, need to change that actuality.
I’m glad to help Southwest’s software to offer nonstop service between DCA and Harry Reid Worldwide Airport as a result of bringing extra flights to Las Vegas creates extra choices for guests to come back to our state and helps maintain vital tourism jobs,” mentioned Rosen.
Southwest, the biggest facilitator of airline visitors in Southern Nevada with about 34% of LAS’ passengers, moreover has the help of Harry Reid Airport officers.
“Offering this much-needed service between the nation’s capital and the sports activities and leisure capital of the world will open up new alternatives for all vacationers,” mentioned Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County’s director of aviation.
Each day Service
If Southwest lands one of many DCA slot concessions, that are to be awarded within the coming weeks, the airline says it’s going to fly day by day from the nationwide airport to Las Vegas.
Like all different Southwest flights, the service to Las Vegas could be aboard Boeing 737 narrow-body airplanes. Southwest’s present seating configuration permits for 175 passengers per flight.
