Press Releases

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Metro Airport (BTR), in conjunction with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), announced a community campaign today to increase support for the nonstop flights on American Airlines to Washington Reagan Airport (DCA).American Airlines added the daily, roundtrip service from BTR to DCA in June of this year, but the flight load factors (% of seats filled) have been below the 80% plus goal.  The overall BTR load factor for all flights is 83% year-to-date, but the BTR to DCA flight load factors have been significantly lower. Flight bookings need to improve to ensure the long-term viability of the flights.

BTR and BRAC are asking businesses or organizations with travel to DC to encourage travelers to use the BTR nonstop flights or even make it part of the travel policy for employees. Not only will it help BTR keep this Washington Reagan roundtrip flight, but it will also improve BTR’s prospects for more service by showing the airlines that our community will support new service.

“It is essential that our capital city maintains nonstop service to our nation’s capital,” said Mike Edwards, BTR’s Director of Aviation. “Flying local supports economic and airport growth in our region while providing confirmation to the airlines that new BTR nonstop routes will be supported.”

A dedicated landing page was created, flybtrtodc.com, where businesses and organizations can take the pledge to support the American BTR to DCA flights.

The pledge reads: “As a local employer, business or government leader, I understand the importance of ensuring the success of the American Airlines nonstop Washington Reagan (DCA) flights from the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. I pledge that our employees will fly the American BTR to DCA nonstop flights.”

The daily flight departs nonstop from Baton Rouge (BTR) to Reagan National Airport (DCA) at 6:30 a.m. morning with a return at 8:11 p.m. In mid-January, the departure from BTR to DCA changes to 7:00 a.m.

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BTR Media Contact: Jim Caldwell

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport

jcaldwell@brla.gov

Phone 225-355-0333