Southwest Airlines eyes new daily service between Washington and Las Vegas
Southwest Airlines has submitted an application to the US Department of Transportation for a new, daily nonstop service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport, with over 50% of public comments in support of the new service.
The route is one of five new round-trip flights made available at DCA through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, with only one nonstop flight currently operated by a competitor. Southwest believes the direct competition will deliver more choice and flexibility to customers, “providing consumers with more option for travel across the western United States, including in Nevada, California, and Hawaii”.
“We have seen a great deal of enthusiasm from our local elected leaders, national unions, utility companies, and the business community in support of this proposed route,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County director of aviation.
Almost 15,000 US travellers have so far registered their support for Southwest’s application, which also proposes to provide the only one-stop, no-change service between DCA and Sacramento International Airport via Las Vegas; the first route of its kind. “The direct flight between California’s capital and the nation’s capital would maximise the competitive and consumer benefits of the DCA route,” concludes Southwest.
