airplane | FFXnow

Dulles Airport launches first-ever non-stop service to Taiwan

Published June 30, 2026 at 9:15AM

An Eva Air plane arrives at Dulles Airport on June 26, 2026 (courtesy Eva Air)

A Taiwan-based airline has just launched a 7,800-mile, nonstop route to Taipei from Dulles International Airport — the longest flight offered to any destination from D.C.-area airports.

Representatives from Eva Air, the Taiwanese government, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), and the Virginia Department of Aviation held a ceremonial water cannon salute, traditional dragon and lion dance performance, and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday (June 26) to mark the inaugural flight.

News

FAA head vows to maintain safety measures implemented after National Airport crash

By Associated Press

Published December 16, 2025 at 4:45PM

Nikita Joy of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, left, and Nadia Milleron of Sheffield, Mass., whose daughter Samya Stumo was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, listen as FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford speaks during a hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday he won’t forget the 67 people who died when an airliner collided with an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January, insisting he won’t allow operations in the airspace over the nation’s capital to revert back to the way they were before the crash.

Countywide

Dulles and Reagan National among airports to cut flights amid federal shutdown

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published November 6, 2025 at 1:30PM

Frontier and Southwest Airlines planes sit at gates at Dulles International Airport during sunrise (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Northern Virginia’s two major airports are among the 40 directed by the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce flights, starting tomorrow (Friday), in response to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The FAA announced yesterday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across “high-volume” markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers go unpaid and exhibit signs of strain during the shutdown, which has now stretched on for a record 37 days.

News

Proposed flight path changes around DCA could benefit Fairfax neighborhoods

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 27, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated October 27, 2025 at 2:54PM

Plane at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A key advisory panel has signed off on a proposal aimed at spreading out flight corridors departing to and arriving from the south at Reagan National Airport.

The plan, which now heads to local governments and ultimately the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), could provide relief for those living in a swath of southern Fairfax County that currently bears the brunt of aircraft noise in the corridor.

News

County board renews call for more action on impacts of National Airport aircraft noise

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 6, 2025 at 3:45PM

An American Airlines jet takes off from National Airport (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County leaders continue to push the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to fund an outside analysis of aircraft noise’s impact on neighborhoods along the flight path at Reagan National Airport.

“This is merely asking MWAA to do what a whole lot of other airports across the country have done,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said on Sept. 30, when supervisors unanimously approved making the request of MWAA CEO Jack Potter.

Around Town

Annual Dulles Plane Pull returns to airport this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 12, 2025 at 8:30AM

A United Airlines team participates in the annual Dulles Plane Pull (via MWAA)

Dulles Day is coming in for a landing this Saturday (Sept. 13).

The annual Special Olympics Virginia fundraiser will return to Dulles International Airport for a 34th year with a variety of activities, including the signature Dulles Plane Pull organized by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police Department.

News

Fairfax leaders brace for uphill fight to reroute DCA airplanes away from county

By Vernon Miles

Published June 24, 2025 at 10:00AM

An airplane takes off from Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A study of how to reduce the impact of airplanes on Fairfax and nearby communities has found that it would help to have fewer planes flying over Fairfax and nearby communities.

Two years after getting hired to identify strategies to reduce the noise impact from Reagan National Airport (DCA) on nearby localities, the consultant Vianair has reported back with findings that basically mirror what local governments have been saying for years.

Countywide

Fired FAA worker from Fairfax to attend Trump address to Congress with Sen. Kaine

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 4, 2025 at 8:15AM | Updated March 4, 2025 at 9:26AM

Sen. Tim Kaine speaks with Higher Horizons staff about federal funding for Head Start programs (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A Fairfax resident who served in the U.S. Army and was recently let go by the Federal Aviation Administration job as part of the current White House’s push to drastically downsize the federal government will attend President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine announced yesterday that he has invited Jason King as his guest for Trump’s first speech to Congress since the president returned to office for a second term on Jan. 20.

News

Fairfax County students sweep statewide aviation art competition

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 27, 2025 at 3:45PM

Herndon student Ivan Li's first-place-winning work for the 2025 Virginia Aviation Art Contest (courtesy Virginia Department of Aviation)

Fairfax County students again dominated the 2025 Virginia Aviation Art Contest.

Youth from McLean, Herndon and Chantilly swept first-place honors in all three age categories, the Virginia Department of Aviation announced on Feb. 19. A total of eight students from the local area will move on to national competition, with an opportunity to potentially compete internationally.

Countywide

Figure skating tribute planned to raise money for DCA crash victims

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 6, 2025 at 11:15AM

Nearly two dozen crosses stand near Gravelly Point, honoring the 67 victims of the mid-air collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Local superstar Ilia Malinin and other figure skaters will convene in D.C. next month to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s airplane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport.

Set for Sunday, March 2, at Capital One Arena, the “Legacy on Ice” benefit will raise funds to support the families and loved ones of the 67 people killed in the Jan. 29 crash, while serving as a showcase for the American figure skating community, which lost 28 members.