The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has tentatively granted two slot exemptions at Washington National to Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines to operate new nonstop roundtrip services.

  • Alaska Airlines received authorisation for nonstop daily service to San Diego International using 159-seat B737-800 or B737-8 aircraft. "This brings us one step closer to offering the only nonstop service between these two major markets. Alaska urges [the] DOT to finalise the selection of our application to serve San Diego as soon as possible," said the carrier in a statement.
  • American Airlines was approved for nonstop daily service to San Antonio International using its A321-200 fleet. “We look forward to DOT issuing a final order so we can begin connecting more members of Military City USA with our nation’s capital,” said the carrier's executive vice president, Nate Gatten.
  • Delta Air Lines is set to establish one daily nonstop roundtrip to Seattle Tacoma International using 194-seat A321-200NX aircraft. "Seattle is a key market for our customers, a crucial hub for Delta, and a premier west coast gateway. We look forward to the Department finalising its decision quickly," said the carrier in a statement to ch-aviation.
  • Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop roundtrip flights to Las Vegas Harry Reid using either B737-800 or B737-8 aircraft with 175 seats. "This route will provide consumers with lower average fares and more choice when traveling between these important markets," the company told ch-aviation in a statement.
  • Finally, United Airlines requested two slot exemptions to fly daily nonstop to San Francisco using a B737-8 aircraft with 166 seats. The carrier also requested authorisation to serve Los Angeles International, but this one wasn’t granted. "United is uniquely positioned to meet the strong demand for air travel between Washington National and San Francisco. This new nonstop flight will operate daily at a convenient, non-peak morning departure time," said the carrier.

Other carriers that were not granted slot exemptions to launch new domestic services from Washington include JetBlue Airways (it was looking to serve either Los Angeles International or San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin); Spirit Airlines (daily nonstop service to San José, US using 182-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft); and Frontier Airlines (daily service to San Juan, Puerto Rico).

According to the DOT, Frontier did not meet the definition of a new entrant air carrier (thus, it was not granted the slots). Spirit Airlines did not serve DCA as of May 16, 2024; therefore, it did not meet the prerequisite of incumbency. Finally, JetBlue did not merit an award of the two slot exemptions because “the service [to Puerto Rico] would not enhance air travel options in an unserved beyond-perimeter market," and the carrier did not supply material analysis supporting its application for DCA-LAX.

The five awarded carriers must launch their new flights within 90 days of the date of service of the final order.