SAN ANTONIO – It’s taken more than a decade of lobbying by an impressive list of San Antonio and Texas business and political leaders, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has finally formally approved an exemption that will allow nonstop flights between San Antonio International Airport and Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C.
“We have finally landed the plane,” Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System, told KSAT in an interview. “Super excited about the partnership that we have established with American Airlines.”
Recommended Videos
It’s a historic win that could have significant economic implications for the San Antonio region.
“The significance of this,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, “can’t be overstated in terms of its business and national security impact.”
Congress approved Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act legislation in May that included a perimeter rule exemption at DCA allowing five new nonstop routes to and from the airport. In October, the DOT tentatively awarded one of the slots to American Airlines, which plans to launch the first nonstop service between San Antonio International and the D.C. airport.
The DOT has also approved Alaskan Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines for nonstop flights between DCA and San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas and San Francisco, respectively.
The airlines have 10 business days to file their proposed flight schedules with the department and have until March 17 to commence air service to the approved destinations.
“American is thrilled to begin nonstop air service to San Antonio from our nation’s capital,” American Airlines Executive Vice President Nate Gatten said. “I want to thank Senator Ted Cruz, the city of San Antonio and the countless elected officials who advocated to connect the fastest growing city in the U.S. with Washington, D.C.”
Cruz, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and a key player in the D.C. push, said the DOT decision represents a “culmination of a years-long effort to connect our nation’s capital with the fastest-growing city in the country.”
While exact details for the flight are pending, Saenz confirmed with KSAT that the flight between SAT and DCA will operate daily, with arrival and departure coming from San Antonio to Washington, D.C.
“We know how important this is to our military and then being able to come in and, you know, do business or commerce as we work hard between San Antonio and Washington, D.C., on a number of different initiatives, whether that’s leisure business or for military efforts,” Saenz told KSAT.
Saenz told KSAT that the San Antonio airport will now offer 46 nonstop flights.
According to Saenz, the exact details of the flight’s route, dates, and other information are expected to be announced this week or early next week.
Read more of this story on San Antonio Business Journal’s website.
Editor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and the San Antonio Business Journal.