During February, approximately 34% of flights experienced delays arriving at DCA—three times more than during the same period last year. Additionally, close to 8% of inbound flights were canceled, up from around 0.5% last year.
Immediately after the crash, FAA halted all flights and diverted planes to nearby Dulles International Airport (IAD) as part of a large-scale investigation. As runways reopened gradually, caps on hourly flight arrivals remained in place throughout most of February.
Following urgent safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board , restrictions were imposed on helicopter traffic near DCA . Essential helicopter flights , including Marine One transports involving President Donald Trump , continue to cause routine halts in air traffic .
A recent poll indicates increased anxiety among travelers following recent plane crashes , with 65 % respondents expressing heightened nervousness about flying .
The MWAA reported that delays have become less widespread recently; as of late March, about 12 % scheduled flights faced delays . Travelers seeking alternatives might consider flying out of IAD or Baltimore / Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport ( BWI ) .
DCA has also seen a decline in passenger traffic; boardings dropped by approximately 12 % - 13 % compared to last year due largely to reduced government travel amid economic concerns tied to workforce cuts under Trump administration policies . This trend echoes broader industry concerns about potential softness in travel demand both domestically and internationally .
Despite these challenges , several airlines launched new transcontinental routes from DCA following congressional authorization last year . These include nonstop services by American Airlines to San Antonio International Airport ( SAT ) , Alaska Airlines to San Diego International Airport ( SAN ) , Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas ' Harry Reid International Airport ( LAS ) , Delta Air Lines to Seattle - Tacoma International Airport ( SEA ) , and United Airlines ' second daily nonstop flight to San Francisco International Airport ( SFO ) .
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