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Las Vegas Airline Lands in D.C. Dogfight

WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas-based National Airlines has landed in the middle of a political dogfight in a quest to obtain space at Washington's National Airport.

The upstart airline's bid for three round trips between McCarran International Airport and Washington's most convenient airport is a case study in Washington policy making, where fierce lobbying, costly advertising and behind-the-scenes deal-making influence decisions.

"We continue to be optimistic that the merits of our application will prevail," National Airlines President Michael Conway said. "But we're not spending a lot of time, energy and money (on lobbying). Just because it works that way (in Washington), doesn't make it right." Congress, at the urging of Senators John McCain, Republican, Arizona, and Richard Bryan, Democrat, Nevada, earlier this year, approved 24 new slots for takeoffs and landings each day at Ronald Reagan National Airport, the closest of three area airports to Washington, D.C.

But only 12 of the 24 new slots are available to airlines based more than 1,250 miles away.

Competition is fierce. Although there are only 24 new slots, 19 airlines have applied to the Department of Transportation asking for a total of 104 slots. The airlines beyond the 1,250-mile perimeter are seeking 40 slots.

The department will make selections by July 6.

This month political maneuvering shifted into overdrive, with powerful members of Congress lobbying the Department of Transportation.

"It's entirely political," said aviation analyst Michael Boyd of the Boyd Group in Denver, an aviation consulting and research group. "The Department of Transportation doesn't make a decision unless it's political."

Among the heavyweights fighting for various airlines:

* McCain, for Phoenix-based America West. America West has applied for five round trips between Washington and Phoenix and Las Vegas, with preference for Phoenix. Boyd called America's West's Phoenix requests "a lock because of McCain."

* House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, for Ozark Airlines, which wants direct routes between Washington and Bloomington, Ill. "He went to bat for Rep. (Thomas) Ewing," another Republican who represents Bloomington, Hastert spokesman John Feehery said.

* House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Missouri, for St. Louis-based Trans World Airlines. "We're gearing up to do everything we can to support them," Gephardt spokeswoman Sue Harvey said.

* Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, for AirTran Airways, which wants direct Atlanta-Washington flights. AirTran is reportedly willing to increase flights between Atlanta and Biloxi in Lott's home state. "This does involve a route that involves an airport in Mississippi," Lott spokesman John Czwartacki said. But he stressed that AirTran was not simply handing Lott a Biloxi-Atlanta route in exchange for his political muscle.

* And Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, reportedly are lobbying for Des Moines-based Midwest Express; Sens. Robert Bennett and Orrin Hatch, both R-Utah, want Delta flights to Salt Lake City; and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both D-California, are battling for flights to their state.

* Finally, Nevada's four-member delegation in Congress has been lobbying for National Airlines and America West for more Las Vegas flights. The three talked to Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater personally.

"He knows our district very well," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said. "He's been to Las Vegas a number of times."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., added, "If politics has anything to do with it, and I hope it does, we should be favored over Arizona -- (because they have) two Republican senators. Utah -- two Republican senators."

Reid said Las Vegas also makes a good pitch.

"We have the merits," Reid said. "Ours is the fastest-growing state in the union. We need the service."

National's Conway said he had no hired guns on Capitol Hill. But other airlines do: United doled out $30,000 to Washington lobbyist Jack Ferguson to make its case.

And National has not paid for advertising to appeal to the department, as American Trans Air did in Capitol Hill publications.

Conway points to the bill that created the slot openings, which says new airlines should be given preference. So will cities that lack adequate air service, according to the bill.

"These are the guidelines we are required to follow," Transportation Department spokesman Bill Mosley said. "We're looking at them very closely."

National Airlines was launched last year, and travelers are desperate for Washington-Las Vegas flights, Conway argued in his 27-page application.

"When you consider the merits, we clearly have the best chance of getting favorable treatment," Conway said in an interview. "When you add politics into it, your guess is as good as mine."

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