US Airways is transforming itself into a low-cost carrier, and starting DTW-DCA nonstops 4X daily in February, according to its press release (excerpt below).


Ronald Reagan Washington National

New nonstop service will be added to six key business destinations, including Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago (O'Hare) with four daily nonstop roundtrip flights each, as well as Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston (George Bush Intercontinental), with three daily nonstop roundtrip flights each. The new markets will feature the 72-seat Embraer 170 Regional Jet on most flights. Mainline jets will replace 50-seat RJ and 37-seat turboprop service on selected flights from Washington to Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Manchester, N.H.; and Raleigh, N.C., versus the February 2004 schedule. Departure levels will be unchanged in Washington versus February 2004, with seat capacity increasing by 40 percent to reflect the use of larger RJs and mainline aircraft.

"US Airways is already the leading airline at Reagan National, and with the new business markets and larger aircraft in our February schedule, we significantly increase our scope of service," said Baldanza. "The use of larger aircraft is consistent with the stimulated demand environment created by the launch of GoFares in the Washington market."

With the change, US Airways will provide nonstop service in 15 of Washington's 20 largest markets.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041018/dcm014_1.html