The DOT officially awarded the five long-distance slot pairs this week.
A Delta aircraft takes off from Washington-DCA (Photo: Shutterstock | Andrew Mauro)
After a long awarding process, selected airlines are now able to schedule their new, highly coveted long-distance flights from Washington’s Reagan National Airport. The Department of Transportation published its final slot awards this week.
American, Alaska, Delta, United, and Southwest were selected to add service to new and existing markets outside of the airport’s 1,250-mile perimeter rule. The carriers have 90 days to start the new flights from the date of the final order.
Reagan National’s largest airline – American – was selected to serve San Antonio. Flights will begin on March 2, 2025.
The carrier plans to operate the following schedule on the new route:
| Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Aircraft |
| SAT | 6:35 a.m. | DCA | 10:41 a.m. | Airbus A321 |
| DCA | 7:45 p.m. | SAT | 10:43 p.m. | Airbus A321 |
American says the flight numbers recognize the Texas city’s history. 1718 was the year San Antonio was founded while 1947 was the year the U.S. Air Force was established. San Antonio has a large military presence.
The new flights will be available for sale on Dec. 23, the carrier said.
Alaska was awarded a route from Reagan National to San Diego, one of the airport’s largest unserved markets. The Seattle-based airline also serves San Diego from Washington’s Dulles airport.
US Airways was the last carrier flying nonstop between Reagan National and San Diego until 2014.
At the time of writing, Alaska’s Washington to San Diego flights are not yet for sale and no start date is available. In its July application, the airline detailed its schedule for the route:
| Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Aircraft |
| SAN | 8:30 a.m. | DCA | 4:30 p.m. | Boeing 737 MAX 8 or 737-800 |
| DCA | 5:30 p.m. | SAN | 7:50 p.m. | Boeing 737 MAX 8 or 737-800 |
In its application, Delta eyed new service between Reagan National and its Seattle hub, which was awarded by the DOT. Flights are slated to begin on March 9, 2025.
The carrier will compete directly with Alaska, which also serves the market. In its application, Delta detailed the route’s schedule:
| Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Aircraft |
| SEA | 8 a.m. | DCA | 4 p.m. | A321neo |
| DCA | 5 p.m. | SEA | 8 p.m. | A321neo |
The new route is not yet for sale on the airline’s website.
The DOT awarded United a second daily flight between Reagan National and its San Francisco hub. The new flight is set to begin on Feb. 13, 2025.
| Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Aircraft |
| SFO | 12:50 p.m. | DCA | 8:58 p.m. | 737 MAX 8 |
| DCA | 7 a.m. | SFO | 10:21 a.m. | 737 MAX 8 |
The additional flight is available for sale on United’s website.
Southwest also won a new nonperimeter route from the airport. Starting on Feb. 13, the carrier will connect Washington and Las Vegas.
The new route also includes a one-stop connection to Sacramento, California, with no aircraft change. Southwest will compete with American between Reagan National and Las Vegas.
| Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Aircraft |
| LAS | 8:30 a.m. | DCA | 3:50 p.m. | Boeing 737 |
| DCA | 4:30 p.m. | LAS | 6:55 p.m. | Boeing 737 |
All the new routes will operate on a daily, year-round basis.
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