Norton to Oppose Amendment to FAA Bill to Increase Long-Distance Flights That Overload Reagan National and Increase Noise

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak out against an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which is on the House floor today, that would end Reagan National Airport's (National) perimeter rule. National's perimeter rule restricts flights, with limited exemptions, into and out of National to destinations 1,250 miles from National to control aviation traffic and noise and to direct major air traffic volume to the much larger Dulles International Airport, that was built for flights of longer distances. However, Representative David Schweikert's (R-AZ) amendment seeks to end National's perimeter rule. Norton has fought to stop changes to the perimeter rule for years. However, she said the current compromise language in the House version of the FAA bill, which would increase the number of exemptions to the perimeter rule from 24 to 34, is better than eliminating the perimeter rule altogether. The compromise at least would promote competition by allowing new airlines at National, while the Schweikert amendment restricts perimeter exemptions only to carriers currently in National, which Norton said, "Would be anti-competitive and likely would raise fares at National, which are already very high." She said that, "National has become an efficient short-haul airport, and Dulles is a premier long-haul airport and international gateway with the ability to keep pace with regional growth."

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