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Dulles International Airport

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Dulles International Airport
Dulles International Airport
source
NameDulles International Airport
IATAIAD
ICAOKIAD
FAAIAD
OwnerMetropolitan Washington Airports Authority
City-servedWashington metropolitan area
LocationDulles, Virginia, United States
OpenedNovember 17, 1962
HubUnited Airlines
Elevation ft313
Coordinates38, 56, 40, N...
Websitehttps://www.flydulles.com/

Dulles International Airport is a major international airport in the Eastern United States, located in Dulles, Virginia, west of Washington, D.C. It is named after John Foster Dulles, the 52nd United States Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which also oversees Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, it serves as a primary hub for United Airlines and a focus city for several international carriers. The airport's distinctive main terminal, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, is renowned for its graceful, wing-like roof and is considered a landmark of 20th-century architecture.

History

The need for a second major airport to serve the National Capital Region was identified in the 1950s, leading President Eisenhower to select the current site in Loudoun County and Fairfax County. The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 and was envisioned as a showcase of modern air travel. Its design and the innovative use of mobile lounges for transporting passengers to aircraft were intended to set a new standard for airport efficiency. Significant expansions have occurred over the decades, including the addition of midfield concourses connected by an aeroTrain automated people mover and the construction of a fourth runway. These developments have solidified its role as a key gateway for transatlantic flight and a critical piece of infrastructure for the Washington metropolitan area.

Facilities

The centerpiece of the airport is the Saarinen-designed main terminal, a designated National Historic Landmark featuring a soaring, suspended concrete roof. The facility includes three spacious midfield terminals—Concourse A, B, and C—and a dedicated international arrivals building, Concourse Z, which processes flights from destinations requiring United States Customs and Border Protection clearance. The airport's air traffic control tower is one of the tallest in the country. Other notable features include the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located on the south side of the airfield, which houses an extensive collection of aviation and space artifacts, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Enola Gay.

Airlines and destinations

As a major global gateway, the airport hosts a wide array of domestic and international carriers. United Airlines maintains its largest hub on the East Coast here, operating flights to destinations across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It is also a focus city for Delta Air Lines and a base for numerous international flag carriers, including Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, and Korean Air. The airport offers non-stop service to over 125 destinations worldwide, facilitating significant Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam connectivity. Cargo operations are substantial, with freight carriers like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines utilizing the airport's extensive facilities.

Ground transportation

The airport is accessible via the Dulles Access Road and Dulles Toll Road, which connect to the Capital Beltway and Interstate 66. Public transit options include the Washington Metro's Silver Line, which has a station at the terminal, providing a direct rail link to Downtown Washington, D.C. and other parts of the Washington metropolitan area. The Washington Flyer taxi service holds the exclusive contract for taxi service, and numerous shared ride van and charter bus services are available. Rental car facilities are housed in a consolidated garage connected to the terminal by frequent shuttle buses.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has experienced few major accidents. The most notable incident occurred in 1974 when Turkish Airlines Flight 981, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed in the Bois d'Ermenonville near Paris, France after departing; the investigation centered on a cargo door failure. In 1994, a USAir DC-9 overran the runway during a storm at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, but the aircraft had originated here. In 2001, in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked after departing from this airport and flown into the Pentagon.

The airport's futuristic architecture has made it a frequent filming location, notably appearing in the 2002 thriller The Bourne Identity and the 2007 film Transformers. It has been featured in episodes of the television series The X-Files and Homeland. The main terminal and its iconic mobile lounges have been used to depict other locations or a generic "airport of the future" in various media, cementing its status as an iconic symbol of modern air travel.

Category:Airports in Virginia Category:Buildings and structures in Fairfax County, Virginia Category:Transportation in the Washington metropolitan area