DALLAS /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines Co. will apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for new, daily nonstop service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS). The carrier is seeking one of five new round-trip flights made available at DCA through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
The new nonstop service would provide airline consumers with much-needed choices and competition on the DCA to LAS nonstop route that currently has only one flight per day operated by another airline. If awarded the route, Southwest® projects significantly lower average fares from DCA to LAS, where Southwest offers more than 260 departures a day this summer, creating convenient connecting opportunities from LAS for communities across the western United States, including Hawaii.
The airline's forthcoming application also will propose to provide the only one-stop, same-plane/no change service between DCA and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) via LAS. The direct flight between California's capital and the nation's capital would maximize the competitive and consumer benefits of the DCA route.
“Southwest has a long history of connecting people across the nation with important moments in their lives through competitive airfares, friendly and flexible policies, and the unmatched Hospitality of our People,” said Bob Jordan, President & Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Airlines. “We look forward to demonstrating to the DOT that Southwest's proposal will maximize benefits to the traveling public.”
“As the chair of the subcommittee overseeing tourism and a member of the aviation subcommittee that helped write the FAA reauthorization bill, I've been working to bolster our national travel and tourism industry by increasing the flight slots to and from DCA,” said U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen. “I'm glad to support Southwest's application to provide nonstop service between DCA and Harry Reid International Airport because bringing more flights to Las Vegas creates more options for visitors to come to our state and helps sustain critical tourism jobs.”
“Providing this much-needed service between the nation's capital and the sports and entertainment capital of the world will open up new opportunities for all travelers,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation. “Southwest Airlines continues to be the largest commercial carrier at LAS, accounting for more than 34% of our annual passengers. The potential to expand this critical service to and from DCA will provide business and leisure travelers with more convenient options and accessibility for nonstop service that hasn't been available in the past.”
Southwest plans to operate the proposed service seven days a week on a Boeing 737 aircraft with 175 seats. Southwest uniquely offers every Customer a combination of up to two checked pieces of baggage for free (weight and size limitations apply) and travel funds and frequent flyer points that do not expire. In its more than 50-year history, Southwest has never charged a change fee.
“We believe Southwest's proposed new DCA-LAS nonstop service will lower fares and increase access for the nation's capital, Las Vegas, and western states,” Jordan said. “Customers in both markets will benefit from competitive airfares and nonstop, hassle-free transportation aboard the airline that invented friendly, reliable flying.”
1Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021
2Fulltime-equivalent active Employees
31973-2019 annual profitability
4 Net zero by 2050 goal includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 emissions only and excludes any emissions associated with non-fuel products and services, such as inflight service items.
