U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded US Airways the right to begin a new daily round trip between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Akron/Canton, Ohio that will provide the state's communities with their only nonstop service to Washington.

"Travelers from Akron and Canton now will enjoy convenient nonstop air service to Washington, D.C.," Secretary Peters said.

DOT awarded US Airways exemptions to the slot limits which govern takeoffs and landings at Reagan National and said the carrier must begin the new service by Jan. 25. The re-allocated slots were made available when AirTran Airways ceased service between Milwaukee and Reagan National on Sept. 3.

In addition to US Airways, the Department also received an application from Midwest Airlines to use the authority as part of its existing Washington-Milwaukee service.

To promote airline competition and enhance air service to the nation's capital, Congress, through the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) and the Vision 100 - Century of Flight Aviation Authorization Act, created exemptions to the slot limitations at Reagan National. One slot exemption permits one daily takeoff or landing; thus, two slot exemptions are required for a single daily round trip. Based on governing statutes, these slot exemptions could be used only for service within the 1,250-mile perimeter at Reagan National.

In order to increase competition at Reagan National in the future, the term of the award will be up for review before the Department in two years at which point DOT could decide to reallocate US Airways' authority upon 120 days' notice.

The Department's decision, carrier applications and other documents regarding the proceeding may be obtained on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2000-7182.