No direct-to-D.C. flights for Aloha Airlines Local...

No direct-to-D.C. flights for Aloha Airlines

Local congressmen and other travelers to the nation’s capital will

have to continue changing planes or flying out of Los Angeles, since

Aloha Airlines wasn’t granted a request for direct flights from John

Wayne Airport to Reagan National Airport.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced Thursday

that nine airlines were selected for new or additional service out of

the Washington, D.C., airport, but the only one to get approval for

West Coast flights was Alaska Airlines, which will add a daily

nonstop flight from Los Angeles as well as one from Seattle.

Reps. Chris Cox and Dana Rohrabacher backed Aloha’s request for

the Reagan airport slots.

JWA also was enthusiastic about the potential direct flight to

Washington, D.C. The airport is always looking to serve larger

markets and increase convenience to Orange County travelers, said JWA

Director Alan Murphy.

“I think Aloha Airlines did a good job trying to get the

allocation and had a lot of support from our local congressional

staff,” he said.

“Of course, we would still be very interested if another carrier

would want to pursue this.”