United Airlines to offer seasonal nonstop flights between Palm Springs and Washington, D.C.

Starting in December, Coachella Valley residents wanting to temporarily trade palm trees and mountains for politicians and monuments will be able to do so without changing planes — at least for a few months.

United Airlines announced Tuesday that it will offer a seasonal flight between Palm Springs and Washington Dulles International Airport from Dec. 19 to April 30. The announcement was made by the airline and Palm Springs International Airport officials.

United will be the only airline to offer direct service between Palm Springs and the Washington area. Tickets for the flights went on sale Tuesday.

The flights will coincide with Palm Springs’ winter and spring tourist season. The airline will operate one flight per day in each direction: the flight to Palm Springs will depart each day at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT) and arrive in Palm Springs at 11:40 a.m. PT (2:40 p.m. ET). .

The flight to Dulles will depart at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) and arrive at 8:45 p.m. ET (5:45 p.m. PT).

Palm Springs had searched for a flight to DC

The announcement of the new flight comes a little more than two years after the Palm Springs City Council approved thousands of dollars in incentives and fee waivers for airlines in exchange for providing nonstop flights to major airports, particularly those not currently served by direct flights. flights.

At the time, Washington, D.C., was on the list of six “target” destinations the city most hoped to see flights added to, along with New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Hawaii. Last year, Alaska Airlines added new service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Tuesday’s announcement did not specify that United received incentives for its flights to Dulles. Those incentives could include waiving some fees charged by the airport for two years, as well as a payment of $50,000 to market the flight. Palm Springs airport officials also indicated whether United would consider continuing the flight beyond April 2025.

A statement from Visit Greater Palm Springs CEO and President Scott White touted the flight as a boon to tourism in the city, noting that it will make it easier than ever for D.C. residents to come and experience all that Palm Springs has to offer.

Harry Barrett, executive director of Palm Springs Airport, said the new flight demonstrates its commitment to expanding service and making global destinations more accessible from the Valley. The release said United flies to more than 100 destinations from Dulles, including Tokyo, Paris, Rome and Sao Paulo.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

This article was originally published on Palm Springs Desert Sun: United to offer seasonal nonstop flights from Palm Springs to DC.