Barbara Boxer: “last week the Bush Administration eliminated the only nonstop air service between Los Angeles International Airport…”

“last week the Bush Administration eliminated the only nonstop air service between Los Angeles International Airport, LAX, and National Airport, DCA, in Washington, DC. The elimination of the flight makes Los Angeles the largest U.S. city without nonstop air service to this vital airport in the Nation's capital. Since the DCA to lax flight began 10 months ago, 45,000 passengers have taken the flight. Not only is it popular, but many small and mid-sized communities throughout the state, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo, rely on this flight. They have connecting flights into LAX specifically designed so that passengers can take the LAX-DCA nonstop flight. These communities will suffer because of this decision. This happened because TWA, which operated the flight, went bankrupt. Even though American Airlines purchased the assets of TWA and was willing to continue the flight, the Administration gave the LAX slot at National Airport to another city. This was an unfortunate decision, and one that was both unnecessary and unjustified. Therefore, today, I am introducing legislation to reinstate the service.”