Congress is working to overhaul air travel at a time of growing dysfunction and disruption in the system, as lawmakers haggle over a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for the next half-decade and make a number of changes that could affect passengers.
Republicans and the airline industry largely oppose new regulations of the industry intended to strengthen consumer protections.
And Washington-area representatives have said they would block the measure if it allowed for more long-distance flights in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just outside the capital.
But the House dispensed with some of the major potential obstacles on Wednesday night.
It narrowly rejected, 229 to 205, a bipartisan proposal to add seven new round-trip flights to Reagan National Airport, potentially smoothing the road to final passage.
Persons:
Ronald Reagan
Organizations:
Federal Aviation Administration, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Reagan National Airport
Locations:
Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington