RELEASE: Capital Access Alliance Launches New Ad Highlighting Why 1966 DCA Perimeter Rule Isn’t Fit For Today’s Air Travel

Local & National Support Continues To Grow For Adding More Flights At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington, D.C. – Today, 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, released a new ad, “Time Has Passed,” as part of its multi-state digital advertising campaign. The 30- and 15-second ad illustrates the vast divide between 1966 and today, including in the air travel ecosystem, and calls on lawmakers to create new policies that align with the current market.

The new ad comes as Congress begins to consider this year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill. CAA has called for the bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act, or The DCA Act, which would authorize 28 in- and beyond-perimeter flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), to ultimately be included in the bill in an effort to give air travelers more choices and lower ticket prices. 

“When Congress established the perimeter rule in 1966, the U.S. Department of Transportation wasn’t even operational. So much has changed over the past 60 years, yet Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is still governed by the same antiquated federal regulation that is costing consumers hundreds of millions per year in higher-than-average airfare,” said CAA spokesperson Brian Walsh. “Lawmakers cannot miss their opportunity this year to make much-needed changes to improve affordable access to Washington, D.C. We urge members of Congress in both parties to support including The DCA Act in the FAA Reauthorization bill.”

Watch the video here.

Support continues to grow for increased access to Washington, D.C. Nearly 50 members of CAA signed a letter sent last week to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in support of The DCA Act. In addition, nearly 3,000 Northern Virginia residents signed a petition in support of adding more flights at DCA. The petition follows a recent survey that found 76 percent of Virginia voters support modernizing the perimeter rule, while nearly six out of 10 Northern Virginia voters support reforming it.

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.

Read CAA’s complete study HERE.

###