DCA Looks to Expand as 60yr old Bill is Outdated..

A newly filed bill pushes on federal restrictions at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), in a bid to add more and longer flights.
The Direct Capital Access (DCA) Act, introduced May 10 by Reps. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), seeks to add 28 additional flights in and beyond DCA’s mandated maximum flight perimeter of 1,250 mi.
Originally set in the 1960s at 650 mi., the boundary limitation was expanded in the mid-80s, and limited flight exemptions have since been granted through several federal statutes—enabling service to cities including Austin in Texas, Denver, Los Angeles, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Seattle. In the bill, legislators ask for an additional 56 slot exemptions.
“DCA is the only airport in the country stuck with a 60-year-old federal law that restricts the number of nonstop flights beyond a 1,250-mi. perimeter, making our nation’s capital one of the most expensive destinations for travelers,” Owens said. “Modernizing the perimeter rule will improve access to Washington, D.C., reduce airline ticket prices, and increase tax revenue for the area.