The opportunity to modernize the outdated perimeter rule is here

Over the last year, Travelers United has closely monitored and participated in the debate regarding the perimeter rule that governs Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

For those unfamiliar with the issue, DCA is the only airport in the country that operates with a federally-imposed “perimeter rule.” Created in the 1960s, only 20 flights per day are allowed to originate from or travel beyond an artificial 1,250-mile perimeter – a very small percentage of the total flights. The perimeter rule and DCA are managed by Congress, so its policies are set in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Authorization bill that is passed every five years. Congress is working to finalize and vote on the FAA Reauthorization bill in the coming weeks. 

As we said in a January 2024 article, consumers are the key beneficiaries of this debate. Modernizing the outdated perimeter rule at DCA to include additional in- and beyond-perimeter slot pairs will increase consumer choice and affordable access between Washington, D.C., and destinations across the country. 

Travelers are paying the price for this harmful regulation

Consumers traveling to or from the national capital region pay the highest ticket prices of any metropolitan area in the country. DCA is not the only airport affected by costly airfare. Dulles International Airport (IAD) was named the most expensive airport in the country for domestic travel. Consumers pay an average of nearly $500 to travel through IAD. It’s simple – the perimeter rule’s arbitrary limitations on flights is leading to reduced choice and higher prices. 

Congressional action

Congress has the opportunity to act on behalf of consumers when it finalizes and votes on the FAA Reauthorization bill. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation recently approved a bipartisan provision to add five new slot pairs at DCA in the committee markup of the bill. The provision passed with strong bipartisan support. 

Data & aviation experts support adding slots at DCA

Opponents of adding slots argue that DCA is at capacity. However, the data says otherwise. FAA data shows that there are at least three periods during the day when DCA could safely and effectively add as many as 28 total flights. Given this, five new flights would be extraordinarily feasible. As with all other airports, airlines would work with the airport to add flights during these off-peak times. 

Keeping consumers the focus

Travelers United supported the bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (DCA Act) introduced last year, which would have included 28 additional in- and beyond-perimeter flights in the FAA Reauthorization bill. As recently as January of this year, we advocated for including as many as 20 new flights at DCA. The five flights included in the Senate Commerce Committee’s provision are beyond a reasonable compromise. It is more than an 80 percent reduction in the number of flights included in the original DCA Act. In an increasingly polarized political environment, we should be celebrating this bipartisan effort. 

Travelers United urges Congress to keep consumers in mind as it works to finalize the FAA Reauthorization bill. Authorizing a modest increase of five slot pairs at DCA will increase consumer choice, strengthen competition and rein in the excessive cost of airfare for the flying public that wishes to travel to or from the national capital region. 

Here is the letter to the Senate Chairman and the Ranking Members

April 29, 2024

 

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
The U.S. Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
254 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable Ted Cruz The U.S. Senate Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
254 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable Sam Graves
The U.S. House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

 

The Honorable Rick Larsen
The U.S. House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Chairwoman Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz and Chairman Graves and Ranking Member
Larsen,

I serve as the president of Travelers United, a non-profit organization that represents all travelers
across the United States. We work closely with Congress, the U.S. Department of
Transportation, and industry stakeholders on a wide array of travel issues. A key part of our
mission is to advocate for policies that benefit consumers. As such, we have closely monitored
and participated in the debate regarding the perimeter rule that governs Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport (DCA).

 

As we wrote in a January 2024 article, air travelers should be the key focus and beneficiaries of
this debate. Modernizing the outdated perimeter rule at DCA to include a modest number of
additional in- and beyond-perimeter slot pairs will increase consumer choice and affordable
access between Washington, D.C., and destinations across the country.

 

Consumers traveling to or from the national capital region pay the highest ticket prices of any
metropolitan area in the country. DCA is not the only airport affected by the lack of competition
and costly airfare. As you know, Dulles International Airport (IAD) was named the most
expensive airport in the country for domestic travel. Consumers are paying an average of nearly
$500 to travel through IAD. It’s simple – the perimeter rule’s arbitrary limitations on flights are
leading to reduced consumer choice and higher prices.

 

Congress has the opportunity to act on behalf of consumers when it votes on the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill. We are pleased that the U.S. Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation recently approved a bipartisan provision
to add five new slot pairs at DCA in the committee markup of the bill, and we appreciate the
strong bipartisan support that it received.

 

Opponents of adding slots at DCA falsely claim that DCA is at capacity. However, the data says
otherwise. FAA data shows that there are at least three periods during the day where DCA could
safely and effectively add as many as 28 total flights. Given this, five new flights would be
extraordinarily feasible. As with all other airports, airlines would work with the airport to add
flights during these off-peak times.

 

Travelers United supported the bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (DCA Act) introduced last
year, which would have included 28 additional in- and beyond-perimeter flights in the FAA
Reauthorization bill. As recently as January of this year, we advocated for including as many as
20 new flights at DCA. The five flights included in the Senate Commerce Committee’s provision
are beyond a reasonable compromise. In fact, it is more than an 80 percent reduction in the
number of flights included in the original DCA Act. In an increasingly polarized political
environment, we should be celebrating this bipartisan effort.

 

In closing, I urge you to keep consumers in mind as you work to reconcile the FAA
Reauthorization bill. Authorizing a modest increase of five slot pairs at DCA will increase
consumer choice and rein in the excessive cost of airfare for the flying public that wishes to
travel to or from the national capital region.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Sincerely,
Charlie Leocha
President
Travelers United