Tag Archives: ronald reagan washington

Southwest to start Houston Hobby-Washington Reagan National service on August 4

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today that new service between Houston Hobby and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will begin on August 4, 2013. The airline initially will operate one daily roundtrip flight between the two cities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently awarded slot exemptions for this service by selecting Southwest’s application over competing applications by other airlines to serve other cities from Reagan National Airport.

The new route completes a triad of nonstop service options between Houston and the metropolitan airports in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC.

Southwest has served Houston Hobby since June 18, 1971, and has more than 2,800 Houston-based employees and currently operates 153 daily departures from Hobby Airport. Earlier this year, the Houston City Council approved Southwest’s proposal to construct a new five-gate international facility at Hobby Airport. New near-international service on Southwest Airlines is scheduled to begin in 2015.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8H4 WL N8610A (msn 36635) completes its final approach into nearby Baltimore/Washington.

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest Airlines files for DCA slot exemptions for Houston Hobby-Washington Reagan National authority

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) today announced it has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for slot exemptions that would allow Southwest to offer nonstop service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The proposed service is possible due to Spirit Airlines’ discontinued use of the slot exemptions, which are available for use inside Washington National’s traditional 1,250 mile service perimeter.

Southwest’s application points out that current average fares for nonstop service between Houston and Washington National are more than 60 percent higher than Southwest’s average nonstop fare between Houston and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), a similar distance. Southwest projects that its proposed HOU-DCA service would attract tens of thousands of new Passengers and save consumers millions of dollars annually.

As part of the effort to bring a low-fare alternative to the HOU-DCA market, Southwest is unveiling www.Southwest.com/HOU-DCA.

A decision by the DOT is expected in the first quarter of 2013. Southwest is prepared to begin service this spring if awarded the slots.

Southwest has served Houston since June 18, 1971, and currently has more than 2,700 HOU Employees serving 143 flights every day. Earlier this year, the Houston City Council approved the carrier’s proposal to construct a new five-gate international facility at Hobby Airport. This new service is scheduled to begin in 2015.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-7H4 N281WN (msn 36528) with special 500th Boeing 737 Aircraft markings arrives at Washington (Dulles).

Southwest Airlines:

American inaugurates Los Angeles-Washington Reagan National flights

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) yesterday launched new daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Stars of the CBS television show “NCIS” and the Disney Pixar film “Brave,” along with World War II veterans, helped inaugurate the first flight from Los Angeles to Washington.

The new flight will feature American’s Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 22 First Class and 166 Main Cabin seats. As part of American’s fleet renewal effort, the airline is currently upgrading its Boeing 757 aircraft used on domestic routes to add style and comfort. Modifications include new Main Cabin and First Class seats, new sidewalls that give the interior a lighter and brighter look, and new LCD monitors to enhance inflight entertainment viewing.

DCA – LAX Schedule

From Los Angeles to Washington Reagan:
Flight 240	Departs: 8:00 a.m.	Arrives: 4:00 p.m.

From Washington Reagan to Los Angeles:
Flight 245	Departs: 5:10 p.m.	Arrives: 7:40 p.m.

Honoring Our Military Heroes

Actors Brian Dietzen, who plays “Jimmy Palmer” on the hit television drama series “NCIS,” and John Ratzenberger, who played “Cliff Clavin” on the award-winning sitcom “Cheers” – and who has voiced a character in each of Disney Pixar’s feature films, including the upcoming “Brave” – helped welcome a very special group of American heroes as the first customers on the inaugural flight.

Nine World War II veterans from the Los Angeles area traveled on the inaugural flight in conjunction with American’s relationship with the Honor Flight Network. These distinguished veterans will receive a VIP tour of the World War II Memorial that is dedicated to their bravery and will visit other monuments that honor our veterans and members of the armed services. Dietzen and Ratzenberger spent time with these heroes on the transcontinental flight.

American:

JetBlue today adds new Florida routes from both New York LaGuardia and Washington Reagan National

JetBlue Airways (New York) today (June 11) launches new service from New York’s LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to points in Florida, increasing flights at both centrally-located airports by eight roundtrips daily to 16 or more roundtrips by this summer.

At LaGuardia, JetBlue now offers daily service to three new Florida destinations including Fort Myers (RSW), Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) and Tampa (TPA). Tampa will be served twice-daily while Fort Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton will each be served with one daily flight. In addition, JetBlue is doubling its LaGuardia to Orlando service, adding two more daily flights for a total of four. The carrier is also adding one more flight to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood for a total of six daily flights and adding a second flight to West Palm Beach.

At Washington’s close-in Ronald Reagan National Airport, JetBlue is adding three more daily roundtrips to Boston for a total of ten per day. JetBlue also added service between Reagan National to Tampa as well as two additional flights to both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. In addition, the carrier will be serving new ‘capital-to-capital’ service from Reagan National to San Juan, Puerto Rico starting August 23.

The growth is made possible by the airline’s acquisition of slots through an FAA auction.

In other news, JetBlue and Air China announced to day a new agreement.

Air China and JetBlue will initially offer interline connections between their networks at New York/JFK as well as at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer. Subject to government approval, Air China this autumn plans to enter into a codeshare with JetBlue and place its “CA” designator on flights operated by JetBlue.

Air China offers one daily flight from New York and two daily flights from Los Angeles to Beijing Capital International Airport. In addition, separate from the JetBlue interline, the airline flies once-daily from San Francisco and Vancouver to Beijing.

The carrier’s LAX flights are operated aboard the brand new fleet of Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, which will also be deployed on the JFK route effective October 1, 2012. The “Triple Seven” features eight Forbidden Pavilion First Class luxury suites, 41 Capital Pavilion Business Class flat beds and 259 economy seats with individual monitors and AVOD (audio-video-on-demand) entertainment system.

Top Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom.

JetBlue Airways: