In Case You Missed It: Supporters Of Increased Affordable Access To Washington, D.C. Make Their Voices Heard, Set The Record Straight On Misleading Claims

In case you missed it, supporters of modernizing the outdated Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) perimeter rule in this year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill are making their voices heard in states across the country, while setting the record straight on misleading claims about adding additional flights at DCA, which FAA data demonstrates is currently underutilized.

CAA spokesperson Brian Walsh recently joined Detroit’s leading morning drive radio program – JR Morning with Guy Gordon – where he explained that the outdated 1960s perimeter rule is a primary reason why Washington, D.C. has the most expensive airfare of the country’s top metropolitan areas.

Walsh also made clear, “The reality is, United and American are opposing this for one reason – they don’t want more competition.” And regarding misleading claims that it would somehow impact existing in-perimeter routes, “The bill is very simple. It’s purely additive…it would have no impact on current service,” he noted.

In a separate interview with South Dakota’s What’s Up radio program, Walsh outlined the topline goal of the bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (DCA Act – H.R. 3185): “Our goal is to inject more competition into the marketplace, give air travelers more choices in how they fly and, ultimately, bring down prices.”

And in an interview with North Carolina’s Capital Tonight show on Spectrum News, Walsh emphasized that “more competition broadly, would lower prices for everyone.” That includes travelers from in-perimeter states who value affordable access to the nation’s capital.

Lastly, in an op-ed published in the Montana Standard, as well as multiple other outlets in the Treasure State, Representative Steven Galloway wrote that artificial limits on flights to and from DCA has resulted in “fewer options and higher fares for those of us in the West.” He adds, “Montanans would benefit from better and more affordable access to the D.C. area and our government. It works the other way, too, giving folks easier access to Montana from the D.C. area.”

Listen to the full JR Morning with Guy Gordon (MI) interview HERE.

Listen to the full Capital Tonight (NC) interview HERE.

Listen to the full What’s Up (SD) interview HERE.

Read the full op-ed in the Montana Standard HERE.

About CAA

CAA consists of diverse members from around the country and various industries, including transportation, general business groups, the small business sector, entrepreneurs and job creators, organizations focused on economic development and leaders in the civic and policy communities.

Learn more about Capital Access Alliance HERE.

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