The nation's three major financial rating agencies recently assigned new ratings to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Fitch, Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's each rated the Authority in conjunction with the issuance of $431.7 million 2003 Airport System Revenue Bonds Series 2003, which closed on October 1st of this year.

Alexandria, VA- A recently-completed study conducted for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority shows that Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports generate over $9 billion for the local economy in combined direct airport spending and associated spending in the visitor industry and that the airports provide over 27,500 jobs at their facilities. Those airport employees earned neary $1.3 billion yearly.

Beginning on Tuesday, July 15th all passengers flying out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will now be required by the Transportation Security Administration to show a boarding pass and photo identification at the security screening checkpoints.

This requirement is already in place at Washington Dulles International Airport and many airports across the country as the TSA implements new security requirements.

Secretary of Transportation, Norman Y. Mineta has approved the extension of thirty years to the current 50-year lease the Airports Authority holds with the federal government to manage and improve Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) invite the public to attend two public meetings on a current noise study being conducted for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The purpose of these meetings is to advise the community of the scope of the study and to explain the process for submitting recommendations and suggestions regarding regional aircraft noise.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Lieutenant Michelle Taylor was selected to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Dublin, Ireland this June.

Taylor, who has been raising funds and awareness for Special Olympic programs for the last eleven years, will represent all the Virginia Law Enforcement agencies involved in Special Olympics.

Washington Dulles International Airport was recognized for its efforts in maintaining a safe and operational airport during the recent winter. The airport was the recipient of the 2003 Balchen/Post Award of Outstanding Achievement in Airport Snow and Ice Control at the 37th Annual International Aviation Snow Symposium on May 7th in Buffalo, N.Y.