Eight US airlines have won new access to slot-restricted Washington Reagan National Airport after federal legislation in April added 24 daily take-offs and landings at the airport.
There were a host of applications to the US Department of Transportation (DoT) for 12 slots outside the 2,310km (1,250nm) limit on flights at the airfield and 12 slots inside.
Nineteen applicants requested over 100 new flights. The DoT's action implements provisions of the US Federal Aviation Administration $40 billion reauthorisation bill which also expands access to New York's La Guardia and Kennedy and Chicago O'Hare International airports.
Benefiting are America West, which will serve Phoenix and Las Vegas; National Airlines, which will also link Washington to Las Vegas; Frontier, which will serve Washington from Denver, and TWA, which has been awarded the Los Angeles route. American Trans Air, Midway Airlines, Midwest Express and Spirit Airlines won slots for shorter routes.
Source: Flight International
