Close to D.C., accessible by Metro, expanding low-cost flight options, and a Taylor Gourmet and Ben’s Chili Bowl: What’s not to like about Reagan National Airport?

That attitude is apparently concerning regional officials, who say National is growing too much at the expense of Dulles.

In a presentation [PDF] to the Metropolitan Washington Council on Governments, officials said National is set to outpace Dulles and Baltimore Washington International airports in enplanements. The merger of U.S. Airways and American Airlines, which opened up 52 slot pairs at National, is expected to bring an additional 2 million passengers annually to the airport by next year. Designed as an origin/destination airport, National is also now seeing more connecting passengers, according to the report, who must exit security and be re-screened, or take a bus.

WTOP reports:

Over the years, Congress has expanded the federal law that limits short-haul perimeter flights at Reagan National. Loudoun County Supervisor Matt Letourneau told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on Wednesday that that’s a problem because Reagan National is at capacity.

“What’s happened, essentially, is that the perimeter rule has been year by year, piece by piece, chipped away by Congress — particularly members of Congress who like to see nonstop flights to their states and districts. Over time, it created tremendous growth at Reagan National Airport, even though that’s not really what they want to see.

“They want to see the growth at Dulles Airport, where there’s room for it. Dulles has seen a decline in domestic passengers as a result,” Letourneau says.

An increase in the passenger facility charge, from $4.50 and $8.50, is being considered. From Rich Roisman of MWCOG’s Department of Transportation Planning:

PFCs are a significant source of infrastructure funding in our regional three airport system, but the cap of $4.50 per passenger has not kept pace with inflation. A national coalition of airports is seeking to have the PFC cap increased to $8.50 per passenger and indexed to inflation as part of the FAA reauthorization.

MWCOG says it needs more time to examine the fee issue. But in a resolution, the body said it supports keeping National at a total of 60 slot pairs: “The Washington Region has not asked for expansion at Reagan Washington National Airport and has a stated policy of encouraging air expansion at Dulles National Airport.”