Washington is throwing a party for America’s 250th birthday this weekend that’s so big the city is shutting down a major airport for nearly 15 hours.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the closest airport to downtown Washington, D.C., will close from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 3 for aerial rehearsals, and again from noon until midnight on July 4 for the Independence Day celebrations, which include military flyovers.
Reagan National typically handles about 850 flights a day, but aviation analytics company Cirium estimates airlines have scheduled only 260 flights on July 4, roughly one-third of its normal daily traffic. Operations will resume on July 5.
Airlines appear to have received months of notice, allowing them to trim schedules rather than cancel flights at the last minute and disrupt thousands of travelers.
Flight operations are usually paused for short periods during Washington’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show, sometimes forcing aircraft to circle until the airspace reopens — and giving passengers a unique view of the show.
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The FAA stopped flights at Reagan National for an unusually long two hours on July 4, 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, causing delays and cancellations.
But a nearly full shutdown is unprecedented.
The closure makes way for the gigantic airshow and fireworks display the White House has planned for Saturday, including flyovers by Air Force One, demonstration teams like the US Air Force Thunderbirds, and B-2 stealth bombers.
In statements to Business Insider, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines said they adjusted their schedules earlier this year to account for the closure and made alternate flight arrangements for affected customers.
Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Air Canada, all of which also fly to Reagan National, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Cirium data shows American, Reagan National’s largest airline, will be hit the hardest by the closure, operating about 50 fewer flights than usual. Other carriers serving the airport have also trimmed service for the holiday weekend.
Nearby Washington Dulles and Baltimore airports could accommodate flights originally destined for Reagan National, but they, along with airports around New York City, also have airspace restrictions for American 250 celebrations and are expecting fewer flights this weekend.
American, Delta, and JetBlue are already offering travel waivers to customers flying to airports affected by the Independence Day celebrations, in anticipation of possible delays.
Trump has been heavily involved in planning the July 4 festivities, which are expected to take over major US cities such as DC, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles.
In the DC epicenter, events include the free Great American State Fair on the National Mall, running through July 10 and featuring exhibits from all 50 states, live entertainment, food, rides, and military displays.
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The festivities are set to ramp up on Saturday, with the annual Independence Day parade down Constitution Avenue, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, along with major concerts, and aerial demonstrations.
So far, reports show thin crowds at the fair, and much of the East Coast is facing a heat wave, with temperatures above 100 in DC this week and expected to last through Friday.
