Delta Air Lines is preparing to launch a new route that it was recently given permission to operate, and it’ll give Alaska Airlines some competition.
In this post:
Delta adds Seattle to Washington flights in March 2025
As of March 9, 2025, Delta will add a new daily, year-round flight between Seattle (SEA) and Washington National (DCA). The new flight will operate with the following schedule:
Seattle to Washington departing 7:23AM arriving 3:30PM
Washington to Seattle departing 4:40PM arriving 7:41PM
The 2,329-mile flight is blocked at 5hr7min eastbound and 6hr1min westbound. Delta intends to use an Airbus A321neo for the route, featuring 194 seats, including 20 first class seats.
Delta will be the second airline to operate this route, as Alaska currently flies in the market twice daily. Furthermore, Delta already flies between Seattle and Washington Dulles (IAD), so this will be Delta’s second flight between the Pacific Northwest and the Washington area.
Here’s how Delta President Glen Hauenstein describes this addition:
“Seattle is a key market for our customers, a crucial hub for Delta, and a premier west coast gateway. Delta commends the Department of Transportation for recognizing that additional service from DCA to Seattle will give consumers the much-needed competition and choice they deserve. We look forward to launching new, premium DCA service in March.”
Delta isn’t just launching new service. It’s launching premium service!
This is a newly granted beyond-perimeter flight
For some background on why this new route is significant, keep in mind that Washington National Airport has a perimeter rule, which has been around since 1966, when jets started flying to the airport. This rule generally prohibits airlines from operating nonstop routes to and from the airport that are longer than 1,250 statute miles.
What’s the logic for the perimeter rule? Well, this was initially intended to protect Washington Dulles Airport as the transcontinental and international gateway for the area. The concern at the time was that Dulles Airport couldn’t thrive if National Airport wasn’t limited in this way.
However, there are a limited number of exceptions allowed. Up until recently, up to 40 daily domestic flights (20 roundtrips) could exceed the limit of the perimeter rule. During the recent FAA reauthorization bill, an agreement was reached for that to be expanded by 25%, so that there can now be up to 50 daily flights (25 roundtrips).
The selection process for awarding those additional slots was quite competitive, given the demand among airlines for them. In the end, the following routes and airlines were selected:
- American from San Antonio (SAT)
- Alaska from San Diego (SAN)
- Delta from Seattle (SEA)
- Southwest from Las Vegas (LAS)
- United from San Francisco (SFO)
Bottom line
Delta is adding a new daily route between Seattle and Washington National, made possible by five new beyond-perimeter slots recently being awarded. Delta will go head-to-head against Alaska, and this also complements Delta’s existing flight between Seattle and Washington Dulles.
What do you make of Delta adding Seattle to Washington National flights?
This cements it, then. DELTA is the most premium airline in the world!
Has anyone here read "A Confederacy of Dunces?"
I think we have our own Ignatius J. Reilly in the comments section.
With apologies to the real Ignatius J. Reilly, of course.
I know Delta wanted the DCA slot, but wouldn't IAD have made more sense? You have a bunch of Sky Team airlines/Delta partners like Saudia, Air France, KLM, Korean and Virgin Atlantic are flying into IAD. Seems like a Delta flight to Seattle would have made a good connection option.
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL508/history/20241220/0618Z/KSEA/KIAD
Delta already flies to Dulles and could make the route 10x daily tomorrow if they wanted to. No slots needed.
Delta likely would've wanted SEA-DCA regardless of Amazon, but a route like SEA-DCA not only captures the better loyalty traffic out of DC vs Dulles but also connects Amazon's super-preferred airline, Delta, from SEA to about one stop from the DCA metro stop, Amazon's HQ2 or whatever they call it.
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL508/history/20241220/0618Z/KSEA/KIAD
Delta already flies to Dulles and could make the route 10x daily tomorrow if they wanted to. No slots needed.
Delta likely would've wanted SEA-DCA regardless of Amazon, but a route like SEA-DCA not only captures the better loyalty traffic out of DC vs Dulles but also connects Amazon's super-preferred airline, Delta, from SEA to about one stop from the DCA metro stop, Amazon's HQ2 or whatever they call it.
If only they already flew that route. :-) Its on an A220 so they obviously don’t see all that much demand. DCA will command a major price premium vis a vis IAD.
I can assure you that the A220 is the most comfortable flight of all of the flights that are offered from SEA to IAD
How so?
The A220 is a good plane but...
https://www.aerolopa.com/dl-223
https://www.aerolopa.com/as-739
Delta's seat pitch is inferior to Alaska in the actual premium cabin.
By 4"
And by 0.5" in Economy Plus
Same seat pitch in economy.
A window in the bathroom is fun, but I'll take legroom any day.
What's your criteria to assure everyone, Tim? Clearly, legroom doesn't matter to you. Is it the calm reassurance you get flying the company that fired you?
Seems like a huge miss not to offer Delta One. Doesn't Delta offer Delta One between LAX and DCA?
I think you're right about D1 on LAX-DCA but, I don't think Delta has any domestic routes with D1 out of SEA at the moment.
JFK, BOS, and MIA are all run on a delta NEO from Miami right now
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Delta move to a NEO on lax-dca soon anyway.
***
"JFK, BOS, and MIA are all run on a delta NEO from Seattle right now"
That's something i'm really curious about. I assumed LAX - DCA would be the first route to get a new Transcon configured A321NEO when they arrive, but maybe not? The route is a roundtrip, so it would make sense to be the first, it would just take one aircraft.
AA doesn't have flatbeds on the route and they charge a lot less for FC, so maybe Delta will downgrade to match, or maybe they will try to offer a premium product ;)
No need to offer Delta One as there is no competing premium experience from SEA to DC Area airports.... at least directly, obviously you can get Mint indirectly via BOS/JFK but that's a hassle.
Delta's schedule is similar but slightly worse.
Just as good as LAX-PEK. No, better!
Frankly, DL’s premium DCA-SEA route is the most impressive route announcement of the decade.
Is anyone else NOT a fan of these new Delta A321 neos? I have been on a number of flights in them in F... I think he seats are unconfortable, and they are awkward to get in and out of (especially the window seats). They are taking over any longish domestic non-Delta One flight. I guess I will have to get used to them, but I am disappointed any time they are added to a route I fly...
Hmm... personally I would take a slightly uncomfortable 321 over a non-renovated 737* any day... but I guess if you're directly comparing the 321 to a nice, recently renovated 737 I might agree.
*if curious, Ben did a fun review of one of these a few months back, and sadly they are commonplace in the DL fleet.
More importantly for the Doubt family is that, as part of this same process, United was awarded a second SFO-DCA RT per day.
Looking forward to another choice of time!
I presume DL gets a mention because they loaded their schedule (and issued a press release) while other carriers have yet to do so.
there are 5 new outside of perimeter flights coming to DCA and the real story is that DL succeeded at getting those flights added given that DL started the campaign, asked for more flights to be added originally, and UA objected the most to the added flights because it weakens the...
I presume DL gets a mention because they loaded their schedule (and issued a press release) while other carriers have yet to do so.
there are 5 new outside of perimeter flights coming to DCA and the real story is that DL succeeded at getting those flights added given that DL started the campaign, asked for more flights to be added originally, and UA objected the most to the added flights because it weakens the overall value of DCA which is still the preferred domestic airport for DC.
Unlike LGA which has a pretty hard perimeter which only does not apply on Saturdays, Congress has repeatedly allowed exemptions to the DCA perimeter so DCA is becoming more and more desirable for longhaul domestic flights.
SAN and SAT are the winners as far as cities with their first outside perimeter flights while UA doubles down on SFO and battled back operational objections to its proposal.
AA and AS increased their lead as the two largest outside perimeter airlines at DCA even though they do codeshare on flights touching DCA.
DL remains the 2nd largest airline at DCA in terms of flights and slots and now has a single daily flight to each of its western hubs - SLC, LAX and SEA.
B6 and NK are the losers and the awards strengthen the stranglehold the big 4 have on traffic and AS' ability to play politics as good as the big 4.
UA will keep growing IAD but more of the local market will be competitive at DCA even as northern VA keeps growing.
ATC and noise advocates that thought that DCA could handle no more traffic lost.
on a day when DC struggles to do its job, carving up new routes at DCA has worked as DL wanted.
You really should sit down one day and evaluate your life. When you wake up to write 10 paragraphs trying to find out "what Ben left out that would've made Delta look amazing", it truly just makes your life so sad
Also, it's just wrong. What delta wanted was shot down. It was only when other airlines ex-United got involved that these new slots went anywhere.
No one said that Ben is wrong. and he is big enough to stand up for himself if he disagrees with what I write.
DL asked for a far bigger pot than was ultimately issued but DL got just one of the 5 new flights.
DL's goal was clearly not to enrich itself at the expense of everyone else but to strengthen DCA where it is the 2nd largest carrier and in the process weaken...
No one said that Ben is wrong. and he is big enough to stand up for himself if he disagrees with what I write.
DL asked for a far bigger pot than was ultimately issued but DL got just one of the 5 new flights.
DL's goal was clearly not to enrich itself at the expense of everyone else but to strengthen DCA where it is the 2nd largest carrier and in the process weaken AA's hold over DCA and UA's hold over IAD for longhaul traffic from the DC area.
I got it right and you can't stand that I can take 2 minutes of time to distill the full essence of what happened and show that DL is strategically in the driver's seat for the US airline industry.
"DL's goal was clearly not to enrich itself at the expense of everyone else but to strengthen DCA where it is the 2nd largest carrier and in the process weaken AA's hold over DCA and UA's hold over IAD for longhaul traffic from the DC area."
Seriously? You can't honestly believe this lol
You say it wasn't Delta's goal to enrich at the expense of others then say they did that exactly? Your mind is...
"DL's goal was clearly not to enrich itself at the expense of everyone else but to strengthen DCA where it is the 2nd largest carrier and in the process weaken AA's hold over DCA and UA's hold over IAD for longhaul traffic from the DC area."
Seriously? You can't honestly believe this lol
You say it wasn't Delta's goal to enrich at the expense of others then say they did that exactly? Your mind is a weird place.
"I got it right and you can't stand that I can take 2 minutes of time to distill the full essence of what happened and show that DL is strategically in the driver's seat for the US airline industry."
lol. Ok, Tim. whatever helps you get through the holidays with no family.
Your alternate reality is something else and it truly is just an alternate reality.
But enjoy being alone, per usual.
well, yes, Max, DL strengthened DCA and was happy to allow other carriers get some of the prizes in order to accomplish DL's purposes. DL got 20% of the total pie and yet struggle to understand that DL achieved its goal of strengthening its position as #2 while weakening AA's position as #1 (AA also only got 20% of the new pieces) while UA also got 20% but the combined 5 new flights at DCA...
well, yes, Max, DL strengthened DCA and was happy to allow other carriers get some of the prizes in order to accomplish DL's purposes. DL got 20% of the total pie and yet struggle to understand that DL achieved its goal of strengthening its position as #2 while weakening AA's position as #1 (AA also only got 20% of the new pieces) while UA also got 20% but the combined 5 new flights at DCA are all from markets which UA flies at IAD, in many cases as a monopoly.
Yes, Max, DL achieved its goal on a smaller scale than it originally asked for - but you clearly can't understand that DL did achieve its goal and that very few "asks" in life turn out to be as large in reality - but that still doesn't mean the principle wasn't achieved.
As usual, because you can't admit that DL was right and I can see the big picture, you will argue incessantly and try to belittle me for noting what you and most others can't see and, even if you can see it, will never admit it.
your mind is a weird place.
AA got one of the new nonstops out of DCA and kept their absolute lead over DL in DCA, not that DL is a legitimate competitor to AA in DCA anyway? Are you high?
AA got one, Oneworld got 40% of the new slot enhancing AA's place in SAN and SAT. Alaska is obviously a separate company, but you'd have to be truly living in a cellar (aka....
your mind is a weird place.
AA got one of the new nonstops out of DCA and kept their absolute lead over DL in DCA, not that DL is a legitimate competitor to AA in DCA anyway? Are you high?
AA got one, Oneworld got 40% of the new slot enhancing AA's place in SAN and SAT. Alaska is obviously a separate company, but you'd have to be truly living in a cellar (aka. your mom's basement) to think AA isn't helped by new OneWorld nonstops into DCA as well as in SAN where their customers can take Alaska and have their AA loyalty when doing so.
Your attempts to talk about Delta's lobbying failure on these DCA slots is strange, at best, ignorant more likely. Delta did NOT get what they wanted. They got one new DCA slot pair once they got other airlines, Ex-United, on board. But sure, Delta gets credit for asking for something, failing at that, then having the other airlines get the incremental DCA slots across the line.
Why is everything so strangely black & white with you? It only makes you look like a child and reinforces why Delta fired you and why you've been banned on so many sites.
Get a grip.
you repeat the exact same facts I said and think my mind is in a weird place? I specifically said that AA is the largest at DCA, got 20% of the flights and so did UA which is the largest at IAD.
AA and AS are in the same alliance but there is no JV. They are competitors. What AA has is AA's and what AS has is AS's.
You and others desperately want...
you repeat the exact same facts I said and think my mind is in a weird place? I specifically said that AA is the largest at DCA, got 20% of the flights and so did UA which is the largest at IAD.
AA and AS are in the same alliance but there is no JV. They are competitors. What AA has is AA's and what AS has is AS's.
You and others desperately want to conflate facts because you can't accept reality as it actually exists.
The only thing weird is the high percentage of your aviation social media posts that are in response to something I write.
You are hellbent on trying to prove me wrong and can't stand to admit that I see reality.
there are multiple articles about the lobbying that DL did to get these new flights added. The fact that you either don't know about it or forget it in the fog of your incessant need to argue and belittle says far more about you than me.
you seem unable to read. I said Delta tried to do something with DCA slots via lobbying and failed. I then reminded you they only got somewhere with their idea when other airlines helped them.
Per everything else you wrote... You're such an internet troll and even describe your own writings as such.
You try to make some weird case that DL one-upped AA in DCA (as though that even matters...) and forget...
you seem unable to read. I said Delta tried to do something with DCA slots via lobbying and failed. I then reminded you they only got somewhere with their idea when other airlines helped them.
Per everything else you wrote... You're such an internet troll and even describe your own writings as such.
You try to make some weird case that DL one-upped AA in DCA (as though that even matters...) and forget that AA now has two new unserved DCA markets feeding their hub there.
Whatever else it is that you're trying to say in your confused state of mind. I really could care less. You're mentally ill.
Getting others to agree to your ideas is the essence of thought leadership. Delta achieved that by getting Congress to add more beyond perimeter flights that benefit five different airlines
AA and UA!s capacity share of beyond perimeter flights from WAS is lower because of these awards. DL achieved its purpose and you can’t stand to admit that or that I can see the big picture that you want to pretend doesn’t exist
"Getting others to agree to your ideas is the essence of thought leadership. Delta achieved that by getting Congress to add more beyond perimeter flights that benefit five different airlines"
are you Gary Leff now? lol. How funny that you troll in the comment sections then try to attach their website label to yourself or Delta when Delta actually failed at their own DCA goals and ended up giving OneWorld an even bigger share...
"Getting others to agree to your ideas is the essence of thought leadership. Delta achieved that by getting Congress to add more beyond perimeter flights that benefit five different airlines"
are you Gary Leff now? lol. How funny that you troll in the comment sections then try to attach their website label to yourself or Delta when Delta actually failed at their own DCA goals and ended up giving OneWorld an even bigger share of the DCA pie. You think AA is mad about AS getting SAN nonstop?
Delta's DCA lobbying went nowhere until AA got Ted Cruz involved (for better or worse).
you're so weird and illogical. You create an outcome in your mind and then desperately try to back it up off some nonsensical other tidbit.
but you're obviously welcome to believe that Delta has scored some kind of coup here. Doesn't make it real and it's definitely in your normal mode to come up with really stupid ways of trying to say "Delta rocks" absent fact.
But ok... the AA DCA hub just added SAN and SAT as new routes to sell to corporate partners. Of course AA/AS aren't in a JV but your own statement betray how ignorant you are of the west coast alliance and the strong benefits it brings to both parties, absent a JV/Acquisition.
OneWorld is even stronger than ever before out of DCA (I guess, per you, thanks to daddy delta which helped their competitors more than themselves).
You live in a strange little illogical world.
But again. No surprise to remind others you were fired by Delta, banned by multiple websites for good or for a period. You're unique, but just about any outside third party observer has deemed you an idiot.
as usual, I have won the debate when you resort to personal attacks because you can't admit that I am right based on the facts of the discussion.
Gary did not trademark the term "thought leadership" and nobody has.
Delta initiated the push to gain more outside perimeter slots at DCA and was more than willing to take a minority of those slots. DL succeeded at pushing that through despite objections heavily led by UA....
as usual, I have won the debate when you resort to personal attacks because you can't admit that I am right based on the facts of the discussion.
Gary did not trademark the term "thought leadership" and nobody has.
Delta initiated the push to gain more outside perimeter slots at DCA and was more than willing to take a minority of those slots. DL succeeded at pushing that through despite objections heavily led by UA. Even though they are the largest at their respective airports, AA and UA's longhaul domestic share at DCA and WAS as a whole, respectively, is weaker as a result.
Feel free to argue all day long - and I am sure you will - but that is what happened.
DL, once again, demonstrates that it is the strategic thought leader in the industry.
It's a personal attack to remind others of your credibility issues?
Not to mention the lunacy of defending an airline, ad nauseam, that fired you. Or to mention you call your own writings on blogs trollish? Or that other websites have banned you, your writing style, and numerous fake names?
My friend, that is not a personal attack. It's choosing to ignore your ridiculous logic and nonsensical reasoning that you keep going with...
It's a personal attack to remind others of your credibility issues?
Not to mention the lunacy of defending an airline, ad nauseam, that fired you. Or to mention you call your own writings on blogs trollish? Or that other websites have banned you, your writing style, and numerous fake names?
My friend, that is not a personal attack. It's choosing to ignore your ridiculous logic and nonsensical reasoning that you keep going with on a continuous infinity loop regardless of how many times you're proven VERY wrong.
It's much easier to destroy your credibility based on your own sad history than waste time using facts as I've done MANY times.
But Again. Delta failed to get what they wanted. AA and other airlines (not UA) are what pushed the slots forward, Delta just tried something else that failed.
Go back to your sad little hole, Troll. When you describe your own writing as being that of an internet troll, there's very little use in responding to the stupid nonsense you say.
Yes. I was right.
You lie and attack because you can’t win the debate.
Delta weakened American and United’s hold on DC
you're so delusional it's honestly funny.
But Merry Christmas or Happy Hannukah, Tim.
Let's hope your 2025 is a little less deluded.
DL wanted so much more than what they got. AA and UA helped make sure DL didn’t get what they wanted.
DL is still a small player in the DC market, compared to AA and UA.
UA is on its way to eight banks in IAD, with the new fifth bank already slated to begin in a few months. A new concourse is already underway.
UA will have a huge presence in...
DL wanted so much more than what they got. AA and UA helped make sure DL didn’t get what they wanted.
DL is still a small player in the DC market, compared to AA and UA.
UA is on its way to eight banks in IAD, with the new fifth bank already slated to begin in a few months. A new concourse is already underway.
UA will have a huge presence in the DC area with a major hub in one of the wealthiest areas of the country. This is in addition to the most powerful northeast hub at EWR, just up the road.
DL tried to change the power dynamic and failed.
After this comment, I will not engage in the “argument loop”, as Brett Snyder (aka Cranky Flier) calls it. To anyone with self-awareness, having Brett, one of the most respected aviation bloggers, refuse to engage with you would be cause for introspection and alarm. Tim sees mockery and ostracism as badges of honor.
Weakens the overall value of DCA how? And why would UA care about that result? UA tried to block the additions to prop up their 1960s terminal at IAD.
Delta never misses an opportunity to scream “premium” when they aren’t
Delta neo first class seat pitch: 37”
Alaska max8 or max9 first class seat pitch: 41”
But maybe delta will add an extra bag of nuts to the inflight service or, more likely, just say premium a lot.
Why anyone would ever choose delta over Alaska in Seattle just shocks me
i've always thought the neo seat pitch was a bit tight. With that full shell they really crowd your space when the person in front reclines. I've almost lost a laptop screen or two from people throwing their seat back as hard and fast as they can without any warning.
‘Delta isn’t just launching new service. It’s launching premium service!’
What a quote from Ben. Now, we may know why DL was awarded this route haha. In order for more premium service and only DL knows how, haha!!! (Joking around). Alaska is going to feel the heat from DL with its premium ‘premium’. Even its premium is beyond premium. Someone here will say something like how there will be rejoice among the flyers that they...
‘Delta isn’t just launching new service. It’s launching premium service!’
What a quote from Ben. Now, we may know why DL was awarded this route haha. In order for more premium service and only DL knows how, haha!!! (Joking around). Alaska is going to feel the heat from DL with its premium ‘premium’. Even its premium is beyond premium. Someone here will say something like how there will be rejoice among the flyers that they know have the honor of flying on a premium airline with premium service and premium food and beverages between Seattle and the nation’s capital:)
I wouldn't be surprised if IAD-SEA was "coincidentally" cut on March 10 - they struggle to fill a CS3, even at fares that make it worth trudging out to Dulles.
I wouldn't call it trudging any more (unlike in the past).
For years, when travelling to DC for work (from Hawai'i and then from home in Australia) I would always make a point of booking flights into National. Inconvenience en route was preferable to ground transport from Dulles. Now that the Metro goes to Dulles, I still prefer National, but if the best flight is to or from Dulles, so be it.
But I'm not the sort of person who would rather die than fly into EWR.
Yeah, schlepping to IAD isn't that bad anymore. I live in DC proper and it took me 75 mins to get to IAD on the Metro as opposed to 20 when going to DCA. But hey, I was able to enjoy a book on my kindle during the ride...
Delta to SEA certainly will open opportunities to explore SEA as a gateway when considering travel to Asia.
no it wont. the DCA-SEA flights on Delta do not connect to/ from Delta's Asian flights at SEA.
SEA to IAD is not getting cut, they even have multiple daily frequencies. Delta gets comparable fares to all competitors on this route.
I think the multiple frequencies is seasonal... right now I see IAD-SEA is daily on DL, vs 2 frequencies on UA and 3 on AS (plus 2 AS DCA-SEA flights). So I wouldn't be surprised if the current frequency gets shifted/upgauged to DCA and IAD is seasonal unless more demand materializes
Dulles is... well... Dulles. But Delta is not getting comparable fares on IAD-SEA. United has a large hub at Dulles while Alaska is more than double the size of Delta in Seattle.
There are routes out of SEA where Delta has an advantage or comparable fares but DCA and IAD is not one off those cities.
We don't need to make up lies simply because it's fun to dunk on Delta and therefore by extension Tim. This is one of those cases where Delta is doing just fine.
The data shows that Delta's LFs are consistently high on this route. They do operate less overall seats compared to UA and AS year-round, but they have no trouble filling up the seats with high 80s to 90%.
Second, yes, Delta does get...
We don't need to make up lies simply because it's fun to dunk on Delta and therefore by extension Tim. This is one of those cases where Delta is doing just fine.
The data shows that Delta's LFs are consistently high on this route. They do operate less overall seats compared to UA and AS year-round, but they have no trouble filling up the seats with high 80s to 90%.
Second, yes, Delta does get comparable fares on this route. I didn't say they got better fares or a premium.