IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2023
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City – American Airlines and the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) celebrated the inaugural nonstop flight from CID to Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. with a full flight departing CID Thursday morning.
This marked the first nonstop flight from Eastern Iowa’s largest airport to the nation’s capital and was years in the making, says Marty Lenss, CID director.
“This is the culmination of work that started years ago,” he says. “In the past five years, we have stepped up those efforts to bring D.C. service here and we are so happy American Airlines was willing to invest in eastern Iowa.”
Initially, the one daily flight will depart CID at 10:40 a.m., arriving at DCA just before 2 p.m. The return flight from DCA departs at 8:30 a.m.; arriving at CID at 10:05 a.m.
American Airlines is using a CRJ900 aircraft with 76 seats and today’s first flight out of CID was full. Almost 60 people were on the inbound flight coming from DCA.
The airline confirmed a second departure has been added to the CID schedule for September, starting Sept. 6. This second flight departs CID at 6:20 a.m., arriving at DCA at 9:35 a.m. It will depart DCA at 8:05 p.m., arriving at CID at 9:44 p.m.
Lenss says it’s important to get the word out now about this second departure to show the popularity of the DCA flight as a nonstop for Washington, D.C. and to connect with popular destinations like New York City, Boston and Charleston.
“American’s winter schedule is not yet finalized, so Eastern Iowa needs to show American how important and popular the DCA nonstop is so the second departure will remain in the schedule,” Lenss says.
CID, with 17 nonstop destinations on five airlines, is the largest airport within a 90-minute drive for 38 percent of Iowa’s population.
“Several of the state’s largest cities, and fastest-growing cities, are located in the CID region,” Lenss says. “In order for CID to maintain and grow air service it is vital the region flies CID for both business and leisure. We continually work with
the airlines to show them the economic strength of this region and that is all thanks to the people who live, work and play here.”
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) with American Airlines, held an inaugural event for the CID nonstop at DCA. The event was in conjunction with the airline and MWAA celebrating new nonstops to CID, Madison, WI and Baton Rouge, LA.
Julie Rath, senior vice president of airport operations for American Airlines, said American is the largest airline at DCA with 247 daily flights. She noted the importance of adding the new nonstops to markets like CID because its, “it’s critical to their economy and growing their populations.”
The new DCA route complements the airline’s existing summer service from CID to Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix.
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About Eastern Iowa Airport –
CID CID has non-stop service to 17 destinations on five airlines: Allegiant: Las Vegas (LAS), Nashville, (BNA), Orlando Sanford (SFB), Phoenix/Mesa (AZA), Punta Gorda/Ft. Meyers (PGD), St. Pete/Tampa (PIE), Sarasota/Bradenton and seasonal service to Los Angeles (LAX); American Airlines: Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW), Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) and Reagan National in Washington, D.C. (DCA): Delta: Atlanta (ATL) and Minneapolis (MSP); Frontier Airlines: Denver (DEN); and United Airlines: Chicago (ORD) and Denver (DEN).
Three air cargo carriers serve CID FedEx, DHL and UPS.
