Kansas is on a flight path to the future. New rule would cut Wichita travelers out | Opinion

Since its creation by Congress in 1986, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has overseen air travel in Washington, D.C., maintaining an operational balance between Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport. By using rules and regulations such as the perimeter rule that limits nonstop flights to Reagan to 1,250 or fewer miles from the city, smaller airports within that limit have preserved access to Washington.

There is currently a push to change this critical rule and put the people of Kansas and Kansas City at risk for more lengthy, complicated and pricey travel to our nation’s capital.

The most common ways to D.C. from Kansas are through Kansas City International Airport and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. KCI offers direct flights to Reagan, while those flying out of Wichita often catch a short connecting flight through Chicago. Either way, Reagan’s perimeter rules generally make traveling from here to D.C. simple.

Changes to the perimeter rules would without a doubt affect Kansas residents. Without the 1,250-mile perimeter, airlines would begin prioritizing longer flights from larger airports, effectively shutting out smaller airports nationwide.

Limitations would not impact bigger airports outside the perimeter that can handle longer, high capacity flights. Instead, it would reduce our competitive advantage by forcing us to go through other hubs. This elevates already-large airports, while putting Kansas’ on the back burner at the expense of our residents and businesses.

This couldn’t come at a worse time, with KCI fighting to gain more opportunities for direct flights overseas as Kansas grows and industry comes to our state. We have multiple championship sports teams, NASCAR races and the recent NFL draft. We are gearing up to host the World Cup in 2026, and upgraded our airport to show a commitment to growth. We are growing manufacturing and businesses are moving their headquarters to Kansas. Kansas communities are ranked among the top places to live. Limiting domestic access to our nation’s capital is a step in the wrong direction.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is expected to take up legislation next week as part of the Federal Aviation Authority Reauthorization bill. In 2007, legislation was introduced to adjust direct flight access to Reagan National. It took 23 attempts and five years to get the current system. I support our federal delegation looking into ways to improve the entire air travel industry to maintain our strategic dominance.

Kansas is on the rise. We must fight to keep the momentum and continue growth, or we risk losing it.