U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has launched an investigation into attempts by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to extort millions of dollars from airlines if Congress changes laws that limit flights into and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The investigation comes after documents revealed that MWAA, at the request of United Airlines, is attempting to transfer the proceeds to United Airlines via Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
In a letter addressed to John Potter, President and CEO of MWAA, Sen. Cruz expressed concerns about the actions of MWAA and its board members. He accused MWAA of playing favorites by prioritizing the interests of IAD airlines over DCA and its passengers. Sen. Cruz also raised concerns about MWAA's potential abuse of authority by conditioning flights based on politics.
"I am deeply concerned that you and members of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) have politicized MWAA and encouraged its corporate capture, ignoring MWAA's limited statutory mandate and abusing the power MWAA has been given by Congress," wrote Sen. Cruz.
The current restrictions on flights into and out of DCA are imposed by two decades-old federal directives known as the "perimeter rule" and the "slot rule." Congress is considering updating these rules to allow for more flights, which would increase competition and benefit consumers. However, United Airlines, through the Coalition to Protect America's Regional Airports (CPARA), is lobbying against any changes that would weaken its monopolistic hold on certain routes.
MWAA's participation in CPARA and its lobbying campaign against increased flights at DCA is concerning because MWAA is a public corporation accountable to Congress. Sen. Cruz emphasized that MWAA should not serve as United Airlines' corporate lobbyist.
"It appears that United Airlines and MWAA are conspiring to undermine a possible congressional change to the rules even before they have been signed into law," Sen. Cruz stated. He revealed that his office has received nonpublic documents confirming MWAA's insistence on including provisions in lease agreements with airlines that would require airlines to pay $1 million annually for each additional DCA flight if the rules are changed. Additionally, MWAA would direct any penalties collected to IAD, benefiting United Airlines.
Furthermore, Sen. Cruz highlighted that MWAA's board has contemplated creating political litmus tests for states to determine whether they would receive flights to and from DCA. This proposal raised concerns about MWAA's politicization and overreach of authority.
In response to MWAA's claim that the D.C. region is well served by IAD, Sen. Cruz quoted the namesake of DCA, stating, "Residents of the D.C. region who are forced to fly through IAD are hardly 'well served' paying monopolistic prices, especially when they would prefer to fly through DCA if the arbitrary slots and perimeter controls did not exist."
Sen. Cruz's investigation aims to shed light on MWAA's actions and ensure that the interests of DCA and its passengers are prioritized.
Click this link to access more information: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-cruz-probes-attempts-to-extort-millions-from-airlines-over-new-dc-flights
