[JYO] Opening Reagan National Airport Fact Sheet

Opening Reagan National Airport Fact Sheet 

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) will reopen on Thursday, October 4th for 
commercial operations. On Thursday shuttle service to New York and Boston 
will resume, and flights to the other six cities will begin as soon as the 
new security measures are in place -- which could be as early as Thursday. 
Resumption of flights at DCA will take place in phases over an initial 
two-month period and extraordinary security measures will be in place for all 
approved flights. The President has identified the initial two phases that 
will lead to a resumption of normal commercial operations, with details of 
subsequent stages to be announced after review of initial flight operations.


Phase I. Initial Shuttle and Hub Connections (Duration: approximately 3 
weeks) 
Extraordinary security measures -- the most exacting in the nation -- in 
place at DCA and all connecting terminals at connecting airports (see below). 


Commercial airlines only. 
Flights to eight hub airports served by six airlines, with slot restrictions 
determined by the Department of Transportation. The service will include: 
New York LaGuardia -- Delta Shuttle and US Airways Shuttle 
Boston -- Delta Shuttle, US Airways Shuttle and American 
Atlanta -- Delta and US Airways 
Pittsburgh -- US Airways 
Chicago -- American and United 
Dallas -- American and Delta 
Minneapolis -- Northwest 
Newark -- Continental 
Aircraft size is limited to 156 seats or less. 
Operations at DCA only between 7a.m. and 10p.m. Phase I will allow 
approximately 190 flights-per-day (24 percent of the 792 scheduled commercial 
flights prior to 9/11). 

Phase II. Expanded Hub Connection (Duration: 30-45 days following Phase I) 
All Phase I operations and operational requirements remain in effect, with 
the exception that the number of flights to each location may increase to 
previously scheduled levels. 
Direct flights to an additional 10 cities (18 total), with locations to be 
determined. If preexisting schedules were resumed, Phase II would allow 
approximately 450 flights-per-day (57 percent of the 792 scheduled commercial 
flights prior to 9/11). 

Enhanced Security Measures Security will be strengthened in numerous ways by 
the FAA, the Department of Defense, the Secret Service, other law enforcement 
agencies, the airport authorities and airlines. Many of the security measures 
will be visible and many will not. Examples of new security measures include: 

Implementing the Federal Air Marshals program for DCA air traffic. 
Limiting passengers carry-on baggage to one bag plus one personal item (a 
purse or briefcase). 
Random hand-wanding of passengers at the gate. 
Identification check and boarding pass match as passengers board aircraft. 
Departures to DCA from approved cities allowed only from pre-designated, 
specially secured gates 
Expanded police and canine patrols of the secure areas. 
Enhanced scrutiny of vehicles and employees that enter the air operations 
area. 
Flight crews dedicated to DCA only, with mandatory pre-flight screening of 
crews. 
Requiring straight-line flight approaches and departures, temporarily 
discontinuing the "river visual approach" used to mitigate noise. 
DCA will implement a public security awareness program.

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