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United States set to tentatively award 5 brand-new day-to-day Washington flights

storyp1> WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) The U.S. Transport Department prepares to reveal later Wednesday it is tentatively awarding 5 brand-new everyday round trip flights from Washington Reagan National airport to major airline companies, sources informed Reuters.

The flights at the busy airport in Arlington, Virginia, outside the nation's capital were mandated under legislation checked in May by President Joe Biden.

American Airlines AAL.O, Delta Air Lines DAL.N, United Airlines UAL.O Southwest Airlines LUV.N and Alaska Airlines ALK.N are viewed as favorites for the brand-new flights, the sources stated.

A USDOT spokesperson decreased to comment. USDOT plans to provide a program cause order that will permit public remark before last orders on the slots are issued.

The Washington area has three significant airports, however Reagan National is the closest to the U.S. Capitol and downtown. Due to the fact that of its brief runways, its main runway is the busiest in the United States, and Reagan is the 23rd-busiest U.S. airport by travelers.

The airlines did not immediately comment.

Delta sought a brand-new flight to Seattle, while Southwest Airlines wants a new Las Vegas flight and American Airlines is looking for a new day-to-day flight between San Antonio and Washington, which would connect the seventh-largest U.S. city to the DC airport.

Alaska Airlines ALK.N looked for a new day-to-day flight to Reagan from San Diego, the biggest market without direct flights to the DC airport, while United Airlines looked for a brand-new flight to San Francisco.

Congress in 1966 stated planes could only fly to destinations within a 650-mile boundary of National Airport, with some exceptions, however years later broadened the flight range to 1,250 miles. Because 2000, Congress has authorized 25 day-to-day flights, including the 5 brand-new ones.


(source: Reuters)