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A long-anticipated direct flight route to and from Wichita's Eisenhower National Airport is on its way.
Beginning on Jan. 8, American Airlines will begin nonstop daily service from Wichita to Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport, Sen. Jerry Moran's (R-Kansas) office announced Friday.
The flights will leave D.C. at 11:30 a.m. ET and arrive at Eisenhower National Airport at 1:45 p.m. Return flights leave Wichita at 3:30 p.m. and arrive at Reagan National Airport at 7:15 p.m. ET.
In a news release, Moran said he has seen for several years "a vital need of connecting 'The Air Capital of the World' with the nation’s capital."
"The new direct American Airlines flight will allow federal officials to quickly travel to Wichita to see firsthand the great work being done in our region – amplifying our competitiveness as a city and state," Moran said. "This has long been a void I have heard from industry and business owners, and I am thrilled our hard work to fill this void is accomplished. It will also make travel to Washington, D.C. faster and more affordable for Kansans."
Passengers will fly on a 76-seat Embraer-175 aircraft.
Moran praised the work of Wichita airports director Jesse Romo in making sure the city is ready for new nonstop flights.
In addition to the D.C. route, American Airlines has recently announced the upcoming Wichita launch of winter nonstop service to Miami and direct flights to and from Phoenix.
"Washington, D.C. is a highly coveted market, so we’re extremely grateful that American Airlines is adding this destination," Romo said. "It will be extremely beneficial to the business community and puts Wichita in a competitive position to enhance our economic opportunities."
American (NASDAQ: AAL) currently offers daily flights out of Wichita to Chicago and Dallas.