The Federal Aviation Administration granted Washington Manassas Airport a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate on Aug. 31, clearing the Northern Virginia airport to accommodate commercial passenger airline service for the first time.
The certificate allows the airport, designated HEF, to meet federal safety and operational standards required for scheduled commercial flights, the FAA said. No specific airline or route announcements were included in the agency’s release.
Manassas Airport sits in the congested Washington-area airspace that includes Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, both of which have faced growing capacity constraints as passenger demand has surged.
For travelers in the Washington metropolitan area, one of the most congested aviation markets in the country, commercial service at Manassas could provide meaningful relief. Reagan National Airport in particular has been the subject of a long-running debate over slot constraints that limit the number of flights airlines can operate.
The Part 139 certificate requires airports to maintain specific standards for firefighting and rescue, pavement condition, marking and lighting, snow removal and wildlife hazard management. The certification process typically takes months of facility upgrades and FAA inspections.
Manassas Airport is located approximately 30 miles west of downtown Washington and is currently used primarily for general aviation, including private and corporate flights. The airport is managed by the Manassas Regional Airport authority.
The addition of commercial service would make Manassas the third airport in the immediate Washington region offering scheduled passenger flights, potentially increasing competition and expanding options for the more than six million residents of the metropolitan area.