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.