RELEASE: New Northern Virginia Petition Released By CAA Reinforces Strong Local Support For Modernizing Perimeter Rule, Additional Flights At DCA

Nearly 3,000 NOVA Residents And Counting Favor Increasing Affordable Air Travel To And From National Capital Region

Washington, D.C. – The Capital Access Alliance (CAA), a coalition of transportation and business leaders from Virginia and around the country seeking to make air travel to and from Washington, D.C. more accessible and affordable, today announced that more than 3,000 Northern Virginia residents have signed a petition to Congress calling for more flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in order to meet consumer demand for increased affordable air travel to and from the national capital region.

“More than 3,000 Northern Virginia residents making their voices heard is the latest example of strong local support for modernizing the outdated perimeter rule, which stifles competition at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and unnecessarily raises the cost of air travel,” said CAA spokesperson and Northern Virginia resident Brian Walsh. “While residents have the benefit of two airports in NOVA to choose from when they travel, the lack of competition is robbing them of convenience and affordability. The Washington, D.C. region has some of the highest ticket prices in the country, and Dulles International Airport was just named the nation’s most expensive airport. Instead of fighting to protect the status quo, local leaders in Virginia should listen to the people and support more and lower cost air travel options.”

The petition follows CAA’s release of a recent survey of Virginia residents that found that more than 76 percent of Virginians support efforts to lower ticket prices. When hearing an explanation of the perimeter rule, voters in the Commonwealth oppose it by a two-to-one margin. In Northern Virginia specifically, nearly six out of 10 residents support reforming the perimeter rule. A May poll from Arlington, VA-based publication ARLnow also found that more than 50 percent of residents in the Arlington region support adding more flights at DCA.

The bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (The DCA Act) introduced by Congressmen Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) would add 28 in- and beyond-perimeter flights at DCA. If approved, these flights would be brand new routes and would not eliminate or replace existing regional service.

Data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shows that DCA operates under capacity during three low-volume periods daily. These three periods have an average capacity of 12 additional flights per hour, which can accommodate the 28 proposed in The DCA Act. Airlines would work with the FAA to safely implement flights during these periods – not during surge peak times.

“Northern Virginia residents care about their bottom line, just like every other consumer in the country. That’s why we support commonsense policies that will improve affordable air travel to and from the national capital region. We hope Virginia lawmakers take note of the strong support among their constituents and vote in favor of The DCA Act,” concluded Walsh.

Learn more about the Capital Access Alliance (CAA) here.

Learn more about the Direct Capital Access Act (DCA Act) here.

###