Photo by Kyle Walton

More than 100 members of the House of Representatives are leaning on federal regulators to allow what will be the world’s largest airline to keep all its positions at Washington Reagan National Airport.

Reuters reports that the House members are concerned that with the impending merger of American Airlines and US Airways, the combined airline would have to give up some of its slots at National, thus threatening to cut off flights back to their districts. In a letter penned by Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and John Duncan (R-Tenn.) and signed by 104 of their colleagues who fly in from far-flung locales, the members of Congress are asking the Justice and Transportation departments to not force the merged airline to divest some of its positions. Often, when airlines combine, the merged companies are required to give up some of their airport territory to avoid breaching anti-trust laws.

But because so many members of Congress depend on National to get back to their districts, they are asking that the merged airline, which will be known as American Airlines, get an exemption. “A requirement of the new airline to divest slots at Reagan National would jeopardize existing service to our communities and preclude access to new markets,” Michaud and Duncan wrote in the May 28 letter. “Other airlines lack the necessary connectivity out of Reagan National and would be more likely to transfer any divested slots to larger cities and more lucrative routes.”

Michaud, who hails from East Millinocket, Maine, takes direct US Airways flights between National and Bangor, while Dunan resides in Knoxville, Tenn., which is also served by a direct route.