A group of Senators have introduced a bipartisan amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill to strip out a misguided provision that would add 10 new long-haul flights at DCA.
[WASHINGTON D.C., MAY 2, 2024] – Last night, Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) joined the Senate delegations from Virginia and Maryland to submit an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill that seeks to protect the interests of American travelers. The bipartisan amendment challenges new text in the FAA Reauthorization bill introduced by congressional negotiators earlier this week that would bring 10 additional long-haul flights to the already at-capacity and overburdened Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Heeding new safety warnings from experts and considering the recent near-miss incident at DCA, the Senators’ bipartisan amendment stripping the additional 10 flights out of the FAA Reauthorization bill is the right thing to do and is in the best interest of travelers to and through the Nation’s Capital. Experts from the FAA and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) have repeatedly stated that DCA cannot accommodate any more flights. According to the latest data from the FAA, DCA is already operating at near peak capacity, with 20 percent of departures and 22 percent of arrivals at DCA already experiencing 67 minute delays, on average.
“Despite Congressional negotiators introducing updated bill text that directly contradicts advice from the experts, CPARA applauds these Senators for their commitment to protecting the best interest of consumers and ensuring that DCA’s slot and perimeter rules remain intact. We urge all members of the Senate to support the bipartisan amendment to remove the language for additional flights at the nation’s busiest runway. ” – CPARA
Protect the best interest of passengers: – get the facts. To promote safe, convenient travel to and from the nation’s capital, take action at: https://www.protectregionalairports.com/take-action/.
About The Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports
The Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports (CPARA) strongly believes that airport authorities – working with local communities and lawmakers – are best placed to make operational decisions at our airports, which will lead to safer, more convenient and sustainable air travel.
Our 150+ member coalition opposes any changes to the High Density (“slot”) and perimeter rules at Reagan National Airport (DCA). DCA is currently at capacity and at risk of being seriously overburdened should there be changes to the slot and perimeter rules. Adding more flights from DCA could create unnecessary gridlock, threaten jobs and local businesses, risk connectivity for countless communities and increase congestion, delays and noise.
