On the terminal concourse at Dulles Airport, a Lego model of the terminal itself
Add Washington Dulles to the list of legacy airports getting big make-overs like those recently at New York’s LaGuardia and currently at JFK. A $22.5 billion plan to transform the airport has been announced by the Federal government with a press conference by President Trump.
The airport, which opened in 1962, is the Washington area’s main international gateway, and has been one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S. after years of sluggish performance. One factor in the change was the addition of a Metro line to the airport, which is about 25 miles from DC. Last year the airport served over 29 million passengers.
The classic main terminal designed by Eero Saarinen will remain, although the iconic mobile lounges that were meant to serve as boarding vehicles will not; they’re too slow and too small for modern jet operations. The new plan calls for over 5 million square feet of concourse and service spaces.
The cost is planned to be raised in part by bonds issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Federal funds and some funding from United Airlines, which accounts for 70% of flights to and from Dulles.
