DC's closest airport is on the verge of adding more
flights,
but the controversial move it is facing late push back.
Our Northern Virginia reporter Max Marcilla live at Reagan National
and Max's Congress that's in control of this move,
but our region, Senator, is there strongly against it.
And they are in this sort of movement to bring
more flights to DCA.
Started off with some people hoping it would be up
to 28 while negotiations happened.
And now they've worked their way down to an agreement
to bring 5 departing flights and five arriving flights here
to Reagan National.
That's still, according to Virginia senators,
a few too many. Adding these additional flights will both
'cause,
I believe, a safety challenge and increased delays.
A late plea from Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim
Kaine.
They say an agreement to bring more flights to National
airport is the wrong move.
The senators say adding flights would only increase delays,
and they say the FAA reports about one in five
flights is delayed already.
And they're arguing the near collision of two airplanes on
the runway earlier this month could become more common.
The main runway at DCA is the busiest runway in
the United States.
I go through DCA all the time and it's very
flexible,
accessible. That's a key argument for more flights.
Reagan National is DCS closest airport.
Plus there's a hope that more flights could mean lower
prices,
and that seems to have the support of Congress.
Though not the DMV's leaders.
And earlier today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testified in front
of Congress,
and he was asked about this plan to bring more
flights to DCA.
He said, in his words,
he was concerned it would create more pressure.
But he did say that the administration will do whatever
Congress tells it to do.
Reporting live at Reagan National.
Max Marcella, DC News Now.