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My question would be “why not close down Reagan?” especially now that the DC Metro runs to Dulles. Yes, yes, Congress likes to fly into Reagan. Too bad. Not on
by gymbeaux 1y ago
My question would be “why not close down Reagan?” especially now that the DC Metro runs to Dulles. Yes, yes, Congress likes to fly into Reagan. Too bad.
Not only does Reagan have the same design problem as LGA and SFO (built before jetliners, runways too short), it’s incredibly close to restricted airspace. No civilian needs to fly into an airport that close to DC.
- kube-system 1y agoThe area has enough traffic to support three airports, and all three (DCA/IAD/BWI) carry between 26-27 million passengers a year, each. I don't think you could close one of them without some significant disruption to service. Travel in/out of IAD from DC can take an hour, which is obviously why people there prefer DCA. And the flights there are all short-haul anyway, so many are the types of flights people are doing on short turnarounds.
- gymbeaux 1y agoWell that settles it then, military aircraft will have to just turn on their ADS-B transponders when within X miles of a commercial/public airport
- janeerie 1y agoThey're not all short haul. I can do a direct to DCA from SLC.
- kube-system 1y agoThere are a handful of exceptions (of which SLC is one), but broadly the airport is legally limited to destinations within a 1250 mile perimeter to keep long haul traffic at IAD/BWI.
- gosub100 1y agoA compromise could be to close it for arrivals during certain hours, opening up one entire side of airspace (depending on the wind). The pain could be mitigated somewhat by adding seating areas and more aircraft parking while using larger planes. For instance, fewer flights total, consisting of 737s and a320s and eliminating flights that previously used shorter commuter sized aircraft.
- gymbeaux 1y agoI think Midway (another old airport) is like this in that it’s “Southwest + some private flights”
- jandrese 1y agoI don't think IAD has the capacity to absorb the DCA traffic, at least not on a regular basis. Even if you include BWA I have my doubts that you wouldn't have to cut a bunch of flights due to gate or runway limitations.
- snowwrestler 1y agoReagan is not shut down because Congress wants it to be open. Immediately after 9-11, lots of people talked seriously about whether to re-open it. Ultimately they did, because Congress wants it.