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- Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been pushing for long-haul flights at National Airport for years.
- But the senators from Virginia and Maryland are firmly against the provision, pointing to safety concerns.
- The provision was included in a FAA reauthorization bill being negotiated in Congress.
For many members of Congress, the allure of adding long-haul flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is impossible to resist. The Arlington, Va., airport is easily accessible by car and public transit, and its proximity to Capitol Hill makes it a favorite of lawmakers.
National Airport, which served nearly 26 million passengers last year, has long had to abide by a 1,250-mile perimeter restriction, effectively boxing out long-haul flights that would greatly benefit lawmakers from Western states.
But on Monday, congressional negotiators put forward a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that would add 10 long-haul slots to the already-strained airport, which led the US senators from both Virginia and Maryland to quickly blast the move.
In a joint statement, Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland criticized the proposal, arguing that passenger safety could potentially be put at risk by such a decision.
"We are deeply frustrated that Committee leadership with jurisdiction over the FAA Reauthorization Act — none of whom represent the Capital region — have decided to ignore the flashing red warning light of the recent near collision of two aircraft at DCA and jam even more flights onto the busiest runway in America," they said, referring to a near miss at the airport earlier this month.
"It should go without saying that the safety of the traveling public should be a higher priority than the convenience of a few lawmakers who want direct flights home from their preferred airport," the senators continued. "We will continue to fight against this ridiculous and dangerous provision."
While Delta Air Lines has thrown its support behind the long-haul provision, United Airlines has opposed the push.
The quartet of senators from Virginia and Maryland have voiced their opposition to the proposed provision since last year.
However, for many lawmakers, a trip from Capitol Hill to National Airport reigns supreme. Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, while fully equipped to handle long-haul flights, are miles outside of Washington, DC. And missing a flight due to a delayed vote can mean waiting until the next day to travel back home.
Still, Kaine, Warner, Cardin, and Van Hollen remain opposed to the potential provision in the FAA reauthorization.
"The senators representing the region and the people who most use this airport stand uniform against a provision negotiated without us that will guarantee more unacceptable delay and compromise passenger safety," they added.