Ronald Reagan National Airport will suspend airline operations on June 14 to accommodate flyovers and fireworks displays for a military parade held in honor of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, a date that coincides with President Trump’s 79th birthday.
Aviation experts say the flight interruptions are unusually disruptive and far more significant than those caused by other major events like presidential inaugurations.
The airport, one of three in the Washington area, said in a statement that the parade, which the Army estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, may impact scheduled flights and that travelers should “check the status of their flights directly with their airline.”
Here’s what you need to know.
Will the airport be closed?
A spokesperson for National Airport said in an email that the airport would “remain open” but that flights were expected to be halted during the fireworks and parade flyover. The parade is scheduled between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
The F.A.A. said it intends to stop all arrivals and departures “during the peak of the celebration, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.”
How often is National Airport closed for big events?
Michael McCormick, a professor of air traffic management at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, said that while it wasn’t unusual for the F.A.A. to pause traffic for a major air event close to an airport, the impact of the military parade would exceed other notable federal events.
“They don’t have fly overs at the inauguration and the State of the Union,” he said.
During major events like presidential inaugurations, the F.A.A. routinely institutes flight restrictions, limiting normal operations at National Airport but not significantly affecting commercial service. Jeff Guzzetti, a pilot and aviation safety expert who has worked for the F.A.A. and the National Transportation Safety Board, said that he’d never heard of commercial airline traffic being shut down for an inauguration.
“Only the lesser general aviation flights are stopped, and even some of those are allowed,” he added. “Even the Fourth of July fireworks in D.C. are not this disruptive, mostly because of the short time period for the fireworks.”
How many flights will be affected?
There are more than 600 scheduled flights to and from Reagan National Airport on June 14: 322 arrivals and 324 departures, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The majority of those flights are scheduled to be operated by American Airlines, which has a hub at Reagan National Airport.
It is not yet clear how many flights will be affected by the closure, though 100 flights — 65 arrivals and 35 departures — are currently scheduled between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to Cirium data.
What have major carriers like American, Southwest and Delta said in response to the closure?
Major airlines such as Southwest, American Airlines, United and Delta have issued waivers or travel advisories on their websites. In statements to The Times, carriers have said they are making adjustments to their schedules and notifying affected passengers.
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Ethan Klapper, a spokesman for American Airlines, said that the carrier is adjusting its schedule, adding larger aircraft to accommodate more customers at alternative times, and offering flexibility for passengers to travel through Washington Dulles International Airport, in Virginia, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at no additional cost. The airline has also issued a travel waiver allowing affected passengers to rebook through June 14 without incurring any extra fees.
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United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for tickets originally purchased on or before June 5 for affected flights out of National Airport. A spokesperson at the airline said there will be two additional departure and arrival flights at Dulles. Ticket changes must be the same type of fare and between the same cities originally booked, and may be rescheduled out of Dulles or Baltimore/Washington.
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A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said the company had limited exposure at National Airport during the parade and had canceled a flight to San Francisco, rebooking those passengers out of Dulles. The airline is also expecting to delay three flights for about an hour. Travelers can rebook or cancel their flights between June 10 and June 16 at no extra cost.
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A travel alert from Southwest Airlines noted possible delays and cancellations for its June 14 flights out of National Airport. The airline is offering travelers a chance to rebook or travel standby and to change their origin or destination to Dulles or Baltimore/Washington with no additional charge.
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Travelers on Delta Air Lines with flights through National Airport on June 14 may rebook no later than June 16 through National Airport, Dulles or Baltimore/Washington.
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JetBlue has not issued a flight advisory on their website. Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for the airline, said that one round-trip flight to and from National Airport was canceled on Saturday and all other flight timings were adjusted. Affected customers were notified directly. Travelers are eligible for a refund or can rebook within five days of the parade.
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Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel.
Nia Decaille is an editor on The Times’s Audience team, who also writes about culture and lifestyle.
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