By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The weather is being closely monitored and taken into consideration ahead of the U.S. Army anniversary parade planned for Saturday in Washington, but at this point nothing has changed, the Pentagon said on Friday.
Some airlines say the parade could be moved to earlier Saturday or potentially Sunday, which could have a significant impact on flights.
A White House spokeswoman said the Army would announce any changes if made. “No matter what, a historic celebration of our military servicemembers will take place,” the White House said. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it plans to suspend flights at Reagan Washington National Airport from 6 p.m. ET to 9:30 p.m. during the anniversary parade on Saturday.
The event is also blocking off a significant section of Washington to vehicle traffic.
Major airlines are offering flexibility to travelers. United Airlines said it is offering a travel waiver for Reagan National, as well as adding two additional departures from and two additional arrivals at nearby Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday.
American Airlines said it has “adjusted our schedule during this timeframe, temporarily added larger aircraft at DCA to accommodate more customers at alternative times and issued a travel alert that includes flexibility to travel on a different day or through Washington Dulles and Baltimore Washington at no extra cost.”
The airport is located less than two miles from the National Mall.
The U.S. Army is bringing 6,500 troops into Washington, along with 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft for the celebration. The flyover will include Apache and Black Hawk helicopters along with Chinooks. Older aircraft like the World War Two-era B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang will also take part.
The Washington area is the most heavily restricted airspace in the United States. No drones are permitted in Washington without special FAA approval.
(Reporting by Ryan Jones, Katharine Jackson; editing by Doina Chiacu)
