Subsequent years saw an expansion of the main terminal, a new runway, a new control tower and portions of an automated train system. Officials last year cut the ribbon on a long-awaited Metrorail link. And soon, it will be home to the largest U.S.-based solar farm at an airport.
Now, a team of planners at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is working on a new vision for Dulles — one that could vastly expand the airport’s footprint and include construction of a new runway, concourses and completion of the AeroTrain system. The new master plan also could incorporate the next generation of transportation options — electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, also known as air taxis — whose backers say could offer a faster, more environmentally friendly travel option.
“It’s a very exciting time,” said Gregg Wollard, planning department manager at MWAA, which manages Dulles and its sister airport, Reagan National. “Because of changes in technology, the industry, airlines, airline equipment and passenger behavior, we thought that this was an opportune time to create a new master plan.”
At an October workshop, officials unveiled three possible designs for concourses, whittled down from more than a dozen. Two of the proposed structures would rely on the AeroTrain system to transport people to their gates. One concept would connect the new concourse to the main terminal, giving travelers the option of walking to their gates or taking the train. Another would be an “H” shaped structure with extended “arms” from the ends. The third is most like the airport’s current layout, with parallel concourses.
Wollard said work on the master plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The next steps include getting feedback from local governments, community members, airlines and other stakeholders. MWAA also would need to select a final concept for a new concourse. Wollard said the buildout could be years away, given the need for environmental impact and other studies.
The new designs come nearly two years after airport officials announced plans for a 14-gate, 400,000-square-foot concourse. The three-level space would be the equivalent of three football fields, Wollard said. A contract has been awarded and officials hope to complete construction by 2026.
Envisioning how Dulles might evolve over 25 years is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, Wollard said. The last master plan for the airport was completed in 1985.
While other airports are struggling to find space for expansion, Dulles sits on about 12,000 acres — more than one-quarter the size of the District. Dulles is the only major East Coast airport with room to grow.
In 2019, the number of passenger enplanement at Dulles was 12.3 million. By 2045, Wollard said conservative projections have that number growing to 17 million — a time when the Washington region is expected to have 1.5 million more residents.
MWAA began the master plan process in 2019 and continued to refine it as the coronavirus pandemic brought travel to a virtual standstill.
“During covid, when a lot of people were pulling back on evaluating things, we took an opportunity to be proactive,” Wollard said. “We knew that we needed to address things before covid. We could see some things that are some weaknesses at the airport and things that we had to address, so we said ‘let’s use this as an opportunity so we can stay in front of the curve rather than play catch-up.’”
Wollard said sustainability is among the top priorities as airport officials move forward with the planning process.
Lessons learned during the pandemic also will influence designs, he said. Personal space became important to travelers, which might change how seating areas are configured. As people have grown more accustomed to using kiosks to complete tasks, such as checking in for flights and checking bags, there might be less need for space to accommodate ticketing agents.
“These kinds of trends are really important to us,” he said.
