Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
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| Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| IATA | DCA |
| ICAO | KDCA |
| FAA | DCA |
| Owner | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |
| City-served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Location | Arlington County, Virginia |
| Elevation-f | 15 |
| Coordinates | 38, 51, 07, N... |
| Website | https://www.flyreagan.com/dca/reagan-national-airport |
| R1-number | 1/19 |
| R1-length-m | 2,134 |
| R1-length-f | 7,000 |
| R1-surface | Asphalt |
| R2-number | 4/22 |
| R2-length-m | 1,585 |
| R2-length-f | 5,204 |
| R2-surface | Asphalt |
| R3-number | 15/33 |
| R3-length-m | 1,585 |
| R3-length-f | 5,204 |
| R3-surface | Asphalt |
| Stat-year | 2023 |
| Stat1-header | Passengers |
| Stat1-data | 25,202,000 |
| Stat2-header | Aircraft operations |
| Stat2-data | 301,000 |
| Stat3-header | Cargo (metric tons) |
| Stat3-data | 1,200 |
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a major commercial airport located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. Owned and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, it is the closest airport to the Capitol and the National Mall. The facility primarily handles short- to medium-haul domestic flights and is a hub for American Airlines.
History
The airport opened in 1941 as Washington National Airport, a project championed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and constructed by the Works Progress Administration. Its original Art Deco terminal, designed by Howard Lovewell Cheney, was a landmark of New Deal architecture. For decades, it was the main commercial airport serving the District of Columbia, managed by the Federal Aviation Administration and later the United States Department of Transportation. In 1987, control was transferred to the newly created Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Following a contentious political debate, Congress renamed the airport in honor of President Ronald Reagan in 1998, a change signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Facilities
The airport's main terminal complex, designed by architect Cesar Pelli, opened in 1997 and features a prominent glass-and-steel atrium. It contains three connected terminals: Terminal A (gates 1-9), and the post-security Terminal B/C (gates 10-45). The historic Terminal A, now used for commuter flights, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable art installations include the "Flight" mural by Robert F. Gates and exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution. The airport is directly connected to the Washington Metro via the Metrorail station on the Blue and Yellow Lines.
Operations
Due to its proximity to central Washington, D.C., and sensitive sites like the Pentagon and Capitol Building, the airport operates under a unique set of federally mandated security and operational restrictions known as the Perimeter Rule. This rule generally limits non-stop flights to a perimeter of 1,250 statute miles, with specific exemptions granted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport's short runways and riverfront location in the Potomac basin also present challenging wind conditions for pilots.
Airlines and destinations
The airport is a primary hub for American Airlines, which operates a significant portion of flights, including its American Eagle regional service. Other major carriers include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Under the Perimeter Rule, exempted long-haul destinations include cities like Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Denver, served by carriers such as Frontier Airlines and JetBlue. The majority of routes connect to major hubs within the eastern United States.
Ground transportation
The airport is directly served by the Washington Metro's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, providing rapid transit to downtown Washington, Arlington, and Alexandria. Multiple Metrobus and Fairfax Connector routes stop at the terminal. Taxi services and rideshare pick-up zones are available on the arrivals level. The airport is also accessible via the George Washington Memorial Parkway and has direct connections to Interstate 395 and U.S. Route 1.
Accidents and incidents
The most significant accident was the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 into the 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff in January 1982, during a snowstorm, resulting in 78 fatalities. In 1949, a Bolivian Air Force C-47 crashed into the Potomac River while approaching the airport. A notable hijacking occurred in 1974 when a man commandeered a Delta Air Lines flight, demanding to be flown to Detroit.
Category:Airports in Virginia Category:Transportation in the Washington metropolitan area Category:Buildings and structures in Arlington County, Virginia