DOT approves four more beyond-perimeter routes to DCA – Alaska, Southwest, Virgin America and JetBlue get the nod

The US Department of Transportation today selected four more beyond-perimeter routes to Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). US DOT selected applications from Alaska Airlines (AS) to serve Portland, OR (PDX); Southwest Airlines (WN) to serve Austin (AUS); Virgin America (VX) to serve San Francisco (SFO) and JetBlue (B6) to serve San Juan, PR (SJU).

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The FAA Reauthorization Bill allows eight slot pairs for beyond-perimeter destinations. The network carriers (United, Delta, American and US Airways) were allowed to convert one of their slot-pairs to operate a beyond-perimeter destination. Four new slot-pairs were awarded to carriers that have minimal service at the airport. Alaska is the biggest beneficiary. It already serves to Seattle and Los Angeles from DCA. With Portland, OR added to its kitty, it would operate daily services from Reagan to three of the top five West Coast cities.

I think, Southwest is playing it safe by selecting Austin. It could have applied for Denver, Las Vegas or Phoenix, but the chances of getting approval from DOT are remote.

More long distance flights to Washington Reagan National – American to LAX and Delta to SLC

The effects of the recently passed Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill are already showing some positive signs for Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). American and Delta announced new flights to the airport.

American Airlines yesterday announced a daily flight between Reagan National and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) staring June 14, 2012. The flights will be operated by a 757 configured in two classes with 22 seats in First and 166 seats in Main Cabin. The route is already served by another daily non-stop from Alaska Airlines. The Los Angeles to Washington region flights are dominated by United Airlines with up to eight daily frequencies to between its hubs in LAX and Dulles and a daily flight between LAX and BWI. It has no flights between LAX and Reagan National. American operates up to three daily flights between LAX and Dulles. It would be interesting to see how United would respond to American’s new flight between LAX and Reagan National.

Starting June 7, 2012, Delta will be adding a second daily frequency between Reagan National and Salt Lake City (SLC). Though I haven’t seen a press release yet from Delta on this, I confirmed the news from its corporate communications office. This shows strong demand for the DCA-SLC route and Delta’s desire to lock in its status as the preferred airline between Salt Lake City and the National Capital Region. Delta already operates services from its Salt Lake City hub to all three airports in the Washington Baltimore Metro area: once daily to both Dulles and Reagan National and twice daily BWI. United operates a single daily frequency between Dulles and Salt Lake City. So does Southwest between BWI and Salt Lake City. With the addition of the second flight to SLC from Reagan National, Delta will reinforce its share between these sectors.

Reagan National Airport’s traffic is mostly O&D. The slots to the close-in, capacity constrained airport are strictly controlled by FAA and command a premium. The airport has set a passenger record for 2011 and this year will be another breakout year for many reasons: the recent slot-swap deal between Delta and US Airways would allow the latter to increase the service at the airport starting March 25; JetBlue announced additional frequencies to Boston Logan (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO) and new service to Tampa (TPA); the FAA reauthorization bill would eight new long distance flights.