Reagan National Airport will start the new year with a capability it has lacked since 2005: receiving general aviation flights, such as charters and private planes, that have taken off from Dulles International.
The federal Transportation Security Administration allows only general aviation from airports designated as “gateway” facilities to land at other airports. Starting today, Dulles will become a gateway, joining 17 other airports across the country. The program, which began in 2005, seeks to ensure that private and charter planes have strict security levels similar to those of commercial airlines.
General aviation flights leaving Dulles will have to meet many security requirements, including federal inspection of the planes, baggage and passengers, enhanced background checks for the passengers and crew, and an armed security officer on each flight.
“This provides operators much greater flexibility when traveling to the nation’s capital while underlining TSA’s commitment to maintain the highest levels of security while allowing for the free flow ofcommerce,” said John Sammon, a TSA assistant administrator.
TSA has authorized 48 flights a day to leave Dulles for National. Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the authority that operates Dulles and National, said the airports do not have an estimate for how much demand exists for Dulles-to-National flights.
“Anything that encourages more air travel into Reagan National is a good thing,” Hamilton said.
Commercial airline passengers will notice a variety of improvements at National in 2007. In Terminal A, for example, new carpets and chairs will be installed, and passengers will hear a public address system by the summer. The terminal is also slated to receive repairs to its façade and new windows. Also, Terminal B/C will be receiving upgrades to its restrooms.
Military personnel and their families will benefit from a project that will begin in 2007. The USO lounge will move to a more accessible location on Terminal A’s main concourse. The lounge gives troops and their families a place to relax between flights.
