Alaska Airlines will temporarily ban checked firearms on planes bound for DC

Alaska Airlines joined other US carriers Thursday in announcing new rules on flights to and from airports around Washington, DC, leading up to Inauguration Day.

Starting tomorrow, the airline will temporarily ban checked firearms on planes bound for DC, and seat availability will be limited.

Passengers on all Alaska Airlines flights headed to Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Dulles International Airport (IAD) must also remain seated starting one hour before landing.

“”We are temporarily implementing additional safety measures focused on keeping our guests and employees safe, as well as working closely with the industry, FAA, TSA, law enforcement and others,” the airline said in a written statement.”

Passengers departing from those airports must also be seated for the first hour of their flights. The airline also noted in their statement that they are adding extra personnel to support compliance.

“We have procedures to ensure compliance prior to departure and takeoff, and for turn-back or diversions, should the circumstance warrant,” the airline said.

Alaska Airlines – which is based in Seattle, Washington – has 31 flights a week between the DC area and the West Coast.