Capital Access Alliance Releases New Ad Showing Why Nation’s Students Need Affordable Access To Washington, D.C.

Spot Tells Story Of Los Angeles Area Teacher Who Takes Low-Income Students To Nation’s Capital, But Is Met With Limited Options & High Ticket Costs Due To Outdated Perimeter Rule

Contact: [email protected]

Washington, D.C. – Capital Access Alliance (CAA), a nationwide coalition of business and transportation leaders seeking to make air travel to and from Washington, D.C. more accessible and affordable, today released a new ad, “Darlene,” as part of its multi-state digital advertising campaign. The 30- and 15-second ads, both in English and Spanish, share Darlene’s story, a high school social sciences teacher at a Title I school near Los Angeles, California who has taken her students to Washington, D.C. for more than 25 years.

“These kids come from low-income families. We depend on donations to pay for flights, but an outdated federal rule makes tickets so expensive,” said Darlene Torres. “Congress, we need your help.”

“Darlene’s story truly illustrates the heart of our effort – that modernizing this nearly 60-year regulation is about giving millions of Americans, including our nation’s students, affordable access to Washington, D.C. Visiting the nation’s capital is a rite of passage for so many students, and each one, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic background, deserves to have that experience without prohibitive costs.

“The perimeter rule as it currently stands is not in the best interest of consumers. Supporting the bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act is standing in support of our students, teachers, families and the millions of travelers who visit Washington, D.C. every year. As Congress prepares to vote on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill in the coming weeks, we encourage them to include this bipartisan measure and make our nation’s capital affordable and accessible for all,”said CAA spokesperson Brian Walsh.

DCA is the only airport in the country that is subject to the federally imposed perimeter rule, which artificially restricts long-distance flights. The severe lack of competition has resulted in Washington, D.C. being the most expensive market in the top U.S. metropolitan areas.

The bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (H.R. 3185 and S. 1933) would add a modest number of in- and beyond-perimeter flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), while protecting current regional routes. FAA data shows that DCA has the capacity to safely add more flights during at least three different time blocks each day. Former FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, who supports adding new flights, said in a recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, “Millions of Americans would benefit from lower ticket prices, less time on connecting flights and greater access to America’s capital city.”

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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