WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) said on Tuesday it will support legislation to add seven new round trip flights a day at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, an issue that has been fiercely contested by major U.S. airlines.
American Airlines (AAL.O), United Airlines (UAL.O) and Alaska Airlines (ALK.N) have strongly opposed adding flights to airport arguing to it would boost congestion and lead to more delays, while Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) strongly supports adding more flights to boost competition.
In the 1960s, the federal government restricted flights at Reagan National to manage congestion and delays at the airport and direct longer flights to Dulles.
The so-called “perimeter rule” limits most non-stop flights serving Reagan National to a distance of 1,250 miles.
Congress previously exempted 20 round-trip flights to airports more than 1,250 miles from Reagan National (DCA).
Persons:
Ronald Reagan, Regan, Republican Burgess Owens, Owens, Reagan, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, David Shepardson, Nick Zieminski
Organizations:
Southwest Airlines, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, U.S, American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S . House, Southwest, Republican, FAA, Reagan National, Reagan, Thomson
Locations:
Ronald Reagan Washington, U.S, Capitol, Dulles, Virginia