Alaska Airlines pushes for direct flights to Reagan National Airport – NBC 7 San Diego

Alaska Airlines is expected to offer daily nonstop flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego Airport (SAN), pending approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

While the airline already connects the West Coast to Reagan with nonstop service from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the new flight would be the only nonstop flight connecting San Diego and Reagan International, according to a statement from Alaska Airlines.

The DOT tentatively approved the round-trip flights on Oct. 16, after a three-month wait after Alaska Airlines made the official application on July 9. An official start date for the flights has not yet been announced.

“San Diego is the largest market without nonstop service to Reagan National Airport,” said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer of Alaska Airlines. “This new route would not only connect Southern Californians to our nation’s capital, but also provide seamless connectivity across Alaska Airlines’ various routes and allow guests to connect via San Diego.”

Alaska Airlines' 183-page application comes after the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which Alaska Airlines said added five flights to increase direct service to the nation's capital.

“The San Diego region has waited a very long time for an opportunity to restore nonstop air service to Reagan National Airport,” said Kim Becker, president and CEO of San Diego International Airport.