The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that a nonstop route between San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has officially been established.
The City of San Antonio and American Airlines announced Friday that the first nonstop flight between SAT and DCA has been scheduled for March 2.
Tickets for the flight will go on sale starting Dec. 23. The flight is scheduled to take off from San Antonio at 6:35 a.m. landing in DC at 10:41 a.m. A return flight will leave from DC to San Antonio at 7:45 p.m. and land in San Antonio at 10:43 p.m., according to a press release.
American Airlines, the Fort Worth-based airline that applied for the route, was given tentative approval back in October to offer round-trip daily flights between the two cities.
The direct flight into the nation’s capital was highly coveted by airlines and airports across the U.S.
The move comes as San Antonio International Airport just broke ground on a $1.68 billion new terminal that’s expected to be completed in 2028. American Airlines, the city’s partner in securing the direct flight to DCA, is expected to get a prime spot in that new building.
American Airlines said it will use distinct flight numbers for the air service, honoring the San Antonio’s history and the region’s strong ties to the military: Flight 1718 commemorates the year San Antonio was founded and Flight 1947 reflects the year the U.S. Air Force was established.
San Antonio officials have longed for a direct flight to DCA for years, and were passed over in previous attempts. Securing the route this time took some unusual coordination between local lawmakers of different stripes who all agreed Military City USA had a compelling need.
“This connectivity between San Antonio and our nation’s capital is long overdue and will benefit our community in many ways,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in an October statement. “We are excited about the opportunities this will bring for economic growth, boosting both our business and military communities.”
Shari Biediger and Lindsey Carnett contributed to this report.
This story has been updated.
