WASHINGTON- On October 16, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) of the United States tentatively granted new slots to five carriers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Southwest (WN) and United Airlines (UA) are the one who gets them.
Washington Reagan Slots Awards
On May 16, 2024, President Biden enacted the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reauthorization Act of 2024 (FAA 2024). This legislation amends Title 49, Section 41718 of the U.S. Code by introducing subsection (i), “Additional Slot Exemptions”.
The new law authorizes the allocation of five additional round-trip flights at Reagan National Airport. Eight airlines have submitted applications for these coveted slots, intensifying competition in the commercial aviation sector.
The Department of Transportation has established specific criteria for selecting air carriers to receive these exemptions.
Priority is given to proposals that enhance nonstop travel options to “beyond-perimeter airports” currently lacking direct service from Reagan National. Additionally, the Department considers the potential positive impact on overall market competition.
The distribution of these new flight slots follows a structured allocation plan. Four slot pairs have been designated for nonlimited incumbent carriers, allowing established airlines to expand their operations at the airport.
The remaining one slot is reserved for an airline qualifying as a limited incumbent carrier, potentially introducing a new or smaller operator to the airport’s roster.
Here’s the summary of awarded routes:
- Alaska Airlines to San Diego (SAN), California.
- American Airlines to San Antonio (SAT), Texas.
- Delta Air Lines to Seattle (SEA), Washington.
- Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas (LAS), Nevada.
- United Airlines to San Francisco (SFO), California.
We will share the argument presented by airlines to the US DOT and avoid the Responsive Pleadings (counter) by other carriers. You can read them later in an official document, the link provided at the end of this article.
Alaska Airlines DCA Slots
Alaska Airlines has applied for two slot exemptions at Reagan National Airport (DCA) to launch daily nonstop flights to San Diego International Airport (SAN). The carrier plans to operate this route using Boeing 737-800 or 737-8 MAX aircraft with 159 seats within 90 days of allocation.
The application highlights San Diego as the largest unserved market from DCA, boasting 225 passengers per day each way and 164,000 annual origin/destination travelers in 2023. Alaska Airlines also projects significant government travel demand, with estimates of 28,000 official trips in 2024, rising to 32,000 in 2025.
Alaska Airlines argues that its entry into the market will drive down fares, citing a 26% price reduction after launching service between Dulles International Airport (IAD) and SAN in Q2 2023. The carrier emphasizes San Diego’s status as the eighth-largest U.S. city and home to the nation’s largest military community.
Further, the application underscores the economic impact of tourism, noting $23.4 billion for San Diego and $10.2 billion for Washington, DC.
American Washington Ronald Reagan Slots
American Airlines has applied for two slot exemptions at Reagan National Airport (DCA) to launch daily nonstop flights to San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The carrier plans to operate this route using Airbus A321 aircraft.
The application identifies San Antonio as the second-largest unserved market from DCA, with 154 passengers per day each way and 56,000 annual origin/destination travelers in 2023. American Airlines reports a total of 221,000 annual origin/destination passengers between the Washington, D.C. area airports (DCA, IAD, BWI) and SAT in 2023.
American Airlines argues that introducing nonstop service to SAT will lead to price competition. The carrier points out that United Airlines and Southwest Airlines currently charge their highest fares on routes from SAT to IAD and BWI, respectively.
The application emphasizes that the DCA-SAT route represents the third-largest unserved origin/destination market in the United States. American Airlines highlights San Antonio’s status as the fastest-growing U.S. city without direct DCA service, citing an 18% population increase over the last decade and a $163 billion economic output.
American Airlines underscores San Antonio’s significant military presence, including three military bases, which contributed $55 billion to the state’s economy in 2023.
Delta Air Lines DCA Application
Delta Air Lines has applied for two slot exemptions at Reagan National Airport (DCA) to launch daily nonstop flights to either Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or add a second daily flight to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
The carrier plans to operate these routes using Airbus A321neo aircraft with 194 seats, commencing service within 60 days of allocation.
Delta identifies Seattle as the fourth-largest beyond-perimeter market from DCA, with 629 passengers per day each way. The airline argues that the DCA-SEA route lacks adequate capacity and competition, and is currently served by a single carrier unable to meet existing demand. Delta estimates an excess demand of 311 passengers per day each way for this route.
The application highlights Seattle’s metropolitan population of 4.1 million, which has grown 30% over the last two decades. Delta emphasizes Seattle’s significant business community, including 10 Fortune 500 and 17 Fortune 1000 companies. The airline claims corporate travelers prefer DCA for Seattle trips, with the current sole operator serving 80% of corporate travelers on this route.
Delta notes its strong presence in Seattle, operating over 150 peak-day departures to 60 global markets.
Southwest Washington DCA Slot
Southwest Airlines has applied for two slot exemptions at Reagan National Airport (DCA) to launch daily nonstop flights to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, with continuing service to Sacramento International Airport (SMF).
The carrier plans to operate this route using Boeing 737-800 or 737-8 MAX aircraft with 175 seats, commencing service within 90 days of allocation.
Southwest identifies Las Vegas as DCA’s largest underserved market by population size, citing 261,000 total annual origin/destination passengers, or 358 passengers per day each way. The airline notes that LAS ranks as the fifth-largest beyond-perimeter market from DCA.
The application highlights strong growth in the DCA-LAS market, with demand increasing 28% in 2023 compared to 2019 levels. This growth outpaces the average -0.1% change for other beyond-perimeter markets and the overall 0.2% recovery rate for all domestic markets from DCA.
Southwest emphasizes the high demand for the DCA-LAS route, pointing to a greater than 90% load factor for current nonstop service.
United Ronald Reagan Washington Slots
United Airlines has applied for two slot exemptions at Reagan National Airport (DCA) to either launch a second daily nonstop flight to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or establish a new daily service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The carrier plans to operate these routes using Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft with 166 seats, commencing service approximately 90 days after allocation.
United cites strong demand for the DCA-SFO route, reporting 584,000 annual bookings between Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. This figure increases to 685,000 when including Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) airports. The airline identifies SFO as the second-largest beyond-perimeter route from DCA in terms of passenger demand.
The application highlights the economic ties between Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, noting the presence of Fortune 500 companies and leading industries driving time-sensitive travel. United emphasizes California’s economic strength, ranking as the world’s fifth-largest economy with 6.1% growth in 2023.
United reports that 60% of its frequent flyers who traveled from DCA in 2023 used the airport exclusively for Washington, D.C. travel, indicating strong loyalty and demand for DCA services. The proposed SFO service would provide one-stop connections to 25 domestic and seven international markets, including new roundtrip connecting services to 16 cities from DCA.
The airline notes the current market share on transcontinental routes from DCA, with Alaska Airlines holding 52%, American Airlines 26% for Los Angeles service, and Delta Air Lines 11% for Los Angeles flights. United argues its proposed service would introduce competition on these routes.
What about JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has rejected slot exemption requests from JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines for proposed new services at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
JetBlue sought two slot exemptions to either add a second daily nonstop flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) or launch a new daily service to Los Angeles (LAX). The airline planned to use Airbus A321 or A321neo aircraft with 160 or 200 seats for these routes.
Spirit Airlines applied for two slot exemptions to establish daily service between DCA and San Jose, California (SJC). The proposed route would have utilized 182-seat Airbus A320NEO aircraft.
Frontier Airlines requested two slot exemptions to start daily flights between DCA and San Juan (SJU). The carrier did not specify an aircraft type or proposed start date for this service in its application.
DOT has meticulously analyzed all applications using statutory criteria and evaluated the competitive advantages and public benefits of each proposal before reaching its preliminary decision. Read more Here.
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