Originally Posted by
flyer703
I think you're right. DCA is at (or over) capacity. DCA tower, Potomac TRACON and Washington Center ATC does an amazing job of "moving metal" very safely and efficiently (the runway incursion last month was WAY overblown by the media), but as all of us who use the airport know - congestion happens often and causes delays.
The problem - quite simply - is the Perimeter Rule. All of the congressionally- mandated DCA slot increases over the last 20+ years have added beyond-perimeter slots. Eliminate the 1960's-era Perimeter Rule and you'll eliminate Congress' interest in adding more flights.
Congress doesn’t want to eliminate the perimeter rule, though. If you eliminate the perimeter, lots of small cities (represented by lots of Senators and Congressmen) will definitely see reduced flights to DCA, and many will lose flights entirely.
The reasons they keep adding exemptions is because they do not have the votes to scrap the perimeter.
Frankly, none of this should be Congress’s decision. Let MWAA manage the airport.