Congressional News:

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize enhanced air service connectivity to Washington, D.C. for the whole country.

The New Mexico Delegation said it was proud to support the FAA Reauthorization package to improve safety, consumer protection, infrastructure, and connectivity for the U.S. aviation system. The lawmakers urged DOT to prioritize connecting new markets to Washington, D.C. in the process to determine new flights at DCA by giving particular consideration to markets, such as Albuquerque, that do not have nonstop service to either of the Washington-area airports, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). 

“The goal of expanding flights to Reagan is to better connect communities across the country to our nation’s capital. It is notable that while some airports have nonstop connections to IAD, DCA, or both, there are still a number of airports that have nonstop connections to neither … based on total daily demand calculations for the Washington, D.C. region, ABQ is the largest market in the United States that does not have nonstop service to either DCA or IAD,” the lawmakers said. 

“This lack of direct connection cuts off significant economic opportunity and tourism for Albuquerque and the entire state of New Mexico,” the lawmakers continued. “The lack of direct connection not only affects our New Mexican constituents and businesses, but also the nation’s national security mission and federal government operations – thousands of federal employees at National Labs and regional agency offices in New Mexico do not have straightforward access to our nation’s capital via direct ABQ service to either IAD or DCA.”

“It is a priority for the Sunport to provide all New Mexicans more direct access to our nation’s capital and connect them to opportunities in the area,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said. “We’re grateful to our congressional delegation for recognizing the urgency of connecting our communities, and petitioning for nonstop service. It will not only promote tourism and business, but create much-needed, direct access to Washington D.C. for thousands of federal employees who call New Mexico home.”

The full text of the letter is available here.