Parking is a side issue to you and me, but it's a big deal to the
politicos. If Congress really gave a damn about the flying public they
would have closed National when Dulles was opened. I remember flying
into NAtional and having the pilot execute a missed approach - that
really woke everyone up.

MTV wrote:
Bill Meng wrote:

If you're traveling non-stop from Vancouver, you will be forced to go
thru Dulles. It used to be and as far as I know still is that any
flight over 1200 miles is forced to Dulles, and any under 1200 miles
is forced to National. Congress forced this on the public in order to
keep National open because Congress the Supreme Court and Cabinet
officials get free parking at National, but not at Dulles.


The parking was a side issue; limits were set on Nat'l to move traffic
to Dulles when it was built out in the boonies. Nat'l air traffic is
limited by its runways and was not built to handle any planes larger
than the old Constellations, DC-9's & 727's. The Wright Amendment
basically banned all flights West of the Mississipi, except DFW.
Congressmen Wright was also instrumental in limiting flights at Dallas'
Love Field to promote the new DFW. Flights at Love can only be to Texas
or contiguous states, which became the impetus for Southwest's success.

MTV

Dulles is a much nicer airport.