(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include statements from United and Southwest Airlines.)
The America250 celebrations over the July 4th weekend will see the Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC shut down its operations for nearly 15 hours.
FAA Announces Closure Of DC Airport
On Tuesday, the FAA made an announcement on X that said the DC airport operations will remain shut on July 3rd from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM local time and on July 4th from 12:00 PM to Midnight amid the Independence Day celebrations.
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“These times are subject to change. Travelers should check with their airline for the latest flight status,” the post said. Business Insider reported on Wednesday that airlines have scheduled 260 flights from the airport on July 4th.
The FAA has been planning and coordinating with stakeholders for months to help ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic during celebrations of America's 250th birthday, including the iconic flyovers and fireworks. As part of that effort, the agency will implement…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) June 29, 2026
Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.
“We planned for this restriction and have scheduled accordingly so that there is no expected customer impact,” a United Airlines spokesperson told Benzinga in an emailed statement.
Southwest Airlines said the company has been in contact over the last several weeks with customers whose flights were affected to make alternative arrangements.
“We have adjusted our flight schedules to accommodate the reduced operating hours,” the airline said.
The report said that airlines like American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) were offering passengers travel waivers ahead of anticipated disruptions to flight operations on July 4th.
Democrats Slam Trump Over Qatari Jet
Trump received sharp criticism from Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as the President boarded the $400 million Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) 747 Jet gifted to him by the Qatari government.
The jet, which is replacing Air Force One, was termed by Trump as being "appropriate for a President," and that there had "never been a plane like this."
FAA Teases Supersonic Planes, Trump Declares Power Emergency Amid Heatwave
Notably, the Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to allow civilian supersonic flights over the continental U.S., saying that they will be working on a framework for noise standards for the aircraft.
Meanwhile, as the America250 celebrations loom, several parts of the U.S. are experiencing a heatwave. The Department of Energy (DOE) declared a power emergency, directing the PJM Interconnection LLC to ramp up operations after the heatwave will affect states like Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and more.
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