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Delta Pursues New Seattle Flight as Airlines Compete for DC Slots

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Delta Airline's

Delta Air Lines plans to announce on Thursday that it will apply for a new flight route between Seattle and Washington Reagan National Airport. This comes as airlines compete for five new daily flights.

President Joe Biden Signs Law for New Flights

On May 16, President Joe Biden signed a law creating these new flights at the busy Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The U.S. Transportation Department must award these new flights by mid-July.

Importance of Reagan National Airport

  • Washington has three major airports, but Reagan National is the closest to the U.S. Capitol and downtown.
  • Its main runway is the busiest in the United States, and it is the 23rd-busiest U.S. airport by passenger count.

Delta Airline’s Competition

Delta President Glen Hauenstein will announce the airline’s plan to apply for the new route during a news conference in Seattle, where Delta is celebrating its first nonstop flight from the U.S. to Taipei.

If successful, Delta will compete with Alaska Airlines, which currently operates the two daily flights from Seattle to Reagan.

Airlines’ Plans for New Routes

  • Delta stated, “The addition of this flight will bring much-needed competition to a route with some of the highest ticket prices in the country.”
  • Southwest Airlines plans to apply for a new daily flight between Washington and Las Vegas, a route currently served by only one daily flight from American Airlines.
  • American Airlines aims to start a new daily flight between San Antonio and Washington, connecting the seventh-largest U.S. city to Reagan National.
  • Alaska Airlines is seeking a new daily flight from San Diego, the largest market without a direct flight to Reagan National, while Spirit Airlines wants a new direct daily flight to San Jose, California.

Historical Background

In 1966, Congress restricted flights at National Airport to destinations within 650 miles, with some exceptions. Later, the limit was expanded to 1,250 miles. Since 2000, Congress has approved 25 daily flights beyond this range, including the five new ones.

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