A bipartisan bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration has sparked debate among Senate Democrats from the Washington area who oppose adding more longer-distance flights in and out of DC’s Reagan National Airport. The proposed change includes increasing slots for five daily round trips to destinations beyond the 1,250-mile perimeter limit out of DCA. Senators like Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Ben Cardin, and Mark Warner are concerned about safety and congestion issues at the airport, which currently services 25 million passengers a year but should accommodate only 15 million.
Van Hollen and Kaine argue that the move to increase slots is being pushed for the convenience of lawmakers because Reagan National Airport is closer to the Capitol than Dulles International Airport in Virginia or Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland. They are joined by their colleagues in opposing the bill and pushing for an amendment to strip out the proposed new routes. Their rationale is based on safety concerns and the airport’s current capacity constraints, emphasizing the need to prioritize safety over convenience for lawmakers.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas has pushed back against the Democrats, accusing them of cloaking their arguments in safety concerns when their true motivation may be to protect regional interests by keeping flights out of Dulles and BWI. Cornyn, along with other lawmakers from Texas, is advocating for a direct flight to San Antonio, citing the importance of this route due to the significant travel between the two cities. He suggests that there is broad support for opening up more slots and that the Democratic amendment to strip the new routes may ultimately fail.
Texas’s influence on the issue is amplified by Senator Ted Cruz, who is the top Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Cruz was able to negotiate a deal with the Democratic chair of the committee, Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington state, regarding the FAA bill and the new slots at Reagan. Negotiations over a package of amendments to the FAA bill are ongoing, with the Senate expected to complete the bill before the May 10 deadline when the current FAA law lapses.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not explicitly stated his support for adding slots or whether the proposed measure will receive a vote. Schumer emphasized the need to work in a bipartisan manner to address the various views and amendments related to the FAA bill. Ultimately, the outcome of the debate over adding more slots at Reagan National Airport will be determined in the coming days as negotiations and discussions among senators continue.
