Delta Air Lines was one of the key recent beneficiaries of the US Department of Transportation’s release of slots for beyond-perimeter flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). With the DOT’s approval, five new daily round trips have been permitted to serve the facility from destinations further afield than the usual perimeter of 1,250 miles, with Delta Air Lines choosing to serve Seattle.
Delta now flies to DCA from all of its US hubs
As reported earlier this week by Simple Flying, the beyond-perimeter slots were highly sought-after, with the DOT prioritizing routes that were either unserved or would positively impact competition. When all was said and done, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines took home one slot apiece, with Delta’s being used to serve Seattle Tacoma (SEA).
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
For Delta Air Lines, the launch of this new transcontinental corridor, which will commence operations on March 9th next year, represents more than just another route in its extensive US domestic network. Indeed, the addition of the route is, in fact, the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to connecting Washington National Airport
with all of its US hubs. Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein stated:
“Seattle is a key market for our customers, a crucial hub for Delta, and a premier West Coast gateway. Delta commends the Department of Transportation for recognizing that additional service from DCA to Seattle will give consumers the much-needed competition and choice they deserve. We look forward to launching a new, premium DCA service in March.”
Breaking Alaska Airlines’ monopoly
Delta’s announcement of its new route from Washington National Airport to Seattle Tacoma International
highlighted the fact that the Pacific Northwest City was DCA’s “largest beyond-perimeter market.” With this fact being combined with the fact that the corridor is, according to Delta Air Lines, presently underserved, the addition of the carrier’s forthcoming daily flights on the route makes operational sense.
Photo: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock
At present, Alaska Airlines has a monopoly on the route between Washington National and Seattle, operating two flights a day each way. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, its coverage of the route is split between 
Boeing
737-800s and 737 MAX 8s, with the former being the dominant variant. Delta’s presence will benefit both passengers and businesses, as the airline explains:
“Community and business leaders played a vital role in supporting efforts to secure the new service, emphasizing the positive economic impact and customer benefits the route will bring.”
Photo: Eliyahu Yosef Parypa | Shutterstock
The addition of the new route to Washington National Airport represents part of a wider investment program at Delta Air Lines concerning the airline’s activities in Seattle. Indeed, the carrier is also fostering growth when it comes to long-haul operations from the Pacific Northwest hub, with plans to replace Airbus
A330s on its Asian routes with A350s, adding 55,000 seats a year and more premium options.
Delta also serves Washington Dulles International Airport from Seattle
When Delta’s new flights from Seattle to Washington National Airport commence in March, this will see all three of its western hubs connected to the facility on a non-stop basis. At present, the airline’s beyond-perimeter offering at DCA consists of four slots, with these split between an arrival and departure apiece on its routes from the airport to Los Angeles International (LAX) and Salt Lake City (SLC).
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
That being said, the carrier does already fly between Seattle and DC on a non-stop basis in the form of its flights to the city’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). This December, Delta has scheduled 35 flights in each direction on this transcontinental corridor, using Airbus A220s. Meanwhile, the new Seattle – Washington National routes will be served by the A321neo. Delta’s SEA-IAD competitors are:
- Alaska Airlines (54 flights in each direction in December 2024).
- United Airlines (46 flights in each direction in December 2024).
