American Airlines will begin nonstop service from Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. on June 1.

Airport and city officials made the announcement at a news conference Friday morning.

CID Director Marty Lenss says the new daily flight is to a destination that has been one of CID’s top 10 destinations for almost two decades.

“Today’s announcement 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.”

The 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 will use a CRJ900 aircraft with 76 seats.

Tickets go on sale Sat., Dec. 16 and can be purchased by visiting the American website at aa.com.

“American is excited to connect Eastern Iowa Airport with Washington, D.C. next summer,” says Philippe Puech, American’s Director of Domestic Network Planning.

“This new route complements our existing summer service from CID to Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix,” he says. “We’re eager to offer customers more ways to experience all that Washington, D.C. has to offer and provide local residents with additional access to American’s global network.”

Cedar Rapids Airport Commission Chair Duane Smith says the new flight will be a “game-changer for the region” and was possible because the region is choosing CID. “This is a perfect example of when eastern Iowa uses their home airport it drives additional service.”

“The new nonstop service will allow travelers to easily and quickly reach their destination without the need to make connections or spend extra time in transit, making CID the airport of choice for even more travelers in our region,” says Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell.

“New routes – and especially a route as important as Washington D.C. – not only enhance this airport,” she says. “They enhance our overall economic development and workforce-recruitment efforts for the city, and our ability to showcase Cedar Rapids as a community where Welcome is Our Language.”

Lenss says the flight time into DCA offers easy connections to many popular CID destinations, including New York City, Boston and Charleston.