Virginia Senators Propose Bill to Cap Flights and Cut 30 Slots at Reagan National Airport Citing Safety

Proponents of expanding flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport have long argued that adding slot exemptions makes traveling to the U.S. Capitol more convenient for lawmakers and passengers, but a new bill introduced by Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner points to a fatal 2025 midair collision as evidence that the airspace is dangerously overcrowded.[1][3][5]

The DCA Air Safety Act, introduced on September 10, 2026, would require the Federal Aviation Administration to cap the airport's arrival rate at no more than 28 aircraft per consecutive 60-minute period. It would also mandate the establishment of binding 30-minute interval caps within 180 days of enactment to prevent flight clustering, distributing takeoffs and landings more evenly across each hour.[1][2][3]

The legislation would eliminate 30 flight slots over five years, beginning in 2028, with at least 26 of those cuts targeting beyond-perimeter exemptions that allow nonstop flights past the airport's 1,250-mile range limit. The reductions would be phased in at a rate of six slots per year, reaching full implementation by the end of 2032.[1][2][3][4]

Kaine and Warner cited the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which killed 67 people, as the catalyst for the bill. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the crash highlighted airspace congestion and high air traffic controller workload as contributing factors.[1][3][4]

On the night of the collision, a single air traffic controller was responsible for managing 29 aircraft during an 18-minute period, including a five-minute span that saw six takeoffs or landings. "In the wake of the midair collision that killed 67 people last year near DCA, Congress must do more to ensure that the highest level of safety regulations is in place to prevent future tragedies," Kaine said.[1][3]

Since 2000, Congress has added 64 daily flight slots at Reagan National, despite opposition from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Kaine acknowledged the convenience the airport offers to the 535 members of Congress, who face a roughly 15-minute drive from the Capitol, but argued that convenience cannot dictate aviation policy.[1][5]

"The convenience of 535 members of Congress can't outweigh the safety of 25 million people who use that airport," Kaine said. He added that any set of reforms failing to address the sheer volume of aircraft operating in the restricted airspace is "dangerously insufficient."[1][3][5]

The proposed slot reductions would not take effect immediately and do not impact 2026 travel itineraries. The FAA would be required to publish a proposed list of slots to be eliminated, open a 60-day public comment period, and issue a final list within 120 days after comments close, leaving the exact routes affected undetermined until the regulatory process concludes.[2][3][4]