Passenger Growth At Reagan National To Overtake Dulles, BWI Airports

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- The CEO of the Washington region's airports authority says it is growing in all the wrong places.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority chief Jack Potter, who oversees Reagan National and Dulles airports, says passenger growth is strong at Reagan, where resources are strained. Dulles, meanwhile, is seeing a decline in domestic passengers despite a $5 billion investment to expand there.

WTOP-FM reports that Reagan is expected to overtake both Dulles and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in passenger volume by the end of the year.

Local officials say the problem is Congress, which has relaxed federal rules restricting flights at Reagan to facilitate nonstop service to various home states.

MWAA is seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to increase passenger fees at Reagan from $4.50 to $8.50.
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