WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department plans to announce later on Wednesday it is tentatively awarding five new daily round trip flights from Washington Reagan National airport to major airlines, sources told Reuters.

The flights at the busy airport in Arlington, Virginia, outside the nation's capital were mandated under legislation signed in May by President Joe Biden.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines are seen as favorites for the new flights, the sources said.

A USDOT spokesperson declined to comment.