DULLES (7News) —7News was given a rare tour behind the scenes of Dulles Airport on Monday. Officials announced plans to expand the airport dramatically in the next few years, both for flying passengers and cargo.
The biggest change travelers will notice is the new $700 million 14-gate concourse that will open in 2026. It will be directly linked to Dulles’s underground Aerotrain system. Richard Golinowski, Airport Manager at Dulles, told 7News about a four-year-old extension of the new concourse that will have more gates. There are also plans for future concourses. Golinowski told 7News that the new concourses would eventually replace the current C – D Concourse. However, it will probably be at least another 20 years.
Officials at the airport said that there are plans to expand the terminal, while maintaining the famous Eero Saarinen designed entrance. Dulles is also planning to add a 5th runway.
Cargo is also a big part of the future plans for the airport. Most flights departing from the airport carry cargo under the seats, in addition to the luggage of passengers. United Airlines said that large planes can carry up to 40,000 pounds of cargo.
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“Almost every flight has some kind of freight.” Chris Busch is Vice President Cargo at United Airlines and Managing Director. “Pharmaceuticals and flowers, perishables or anything else that requires a quick turnaround will be found in air freight.”
United has big plans to expand passenger service and cargo shipping at Dulles. Airport officials and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership are planning to make it possible for cargo-only aircraft to fly from Dulles Airport. Airport officials are looking at land in the southern part of Dulles Airport’s vast property to build facilities that will allow freight to be shipped by air.
“Virginia will grow because of a few critical sectors, which are all dependent on air freight as a major component of their supply chains,” said Eric Jehu Vice President of Logistics at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “So biopharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing are industries that rely heavily on air cargo for their overall movement of goods.”
Jehu said that currently, goods from D.C. must be transported long distances first by truck before they can be sent by plane.
Jehu said that if the item is going global, then it will likely be transported by truck to New York, Atlanta, or Chicago, especially if the item is too large to fit into the belly of an aircraft.
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Jehu said Dulles was in a good position to become a major center of shipping and receiving cargo. The VEDP has begun a study on how to make this a reality. He said that being able ship more cargo from Dulles would save time and money for businesses in the area, and would also help attract new businesses.
Jehu said Virginia has one of the busiest port in the nation, along with a good road and rail infrastructure. But air cargo infrastructure is what it lacks. Dulles is the 5th largest airport in the world by land area, with a lot of it still unused. It’s the perfect place to expand air freight operations.
Dulles Airport is looking to the future, but it appears that a part of its history will remain for at least another 20 years. Airport officials announced Monday that they plan to spend $160,000,000 to refurbish all 49 iconic people movers – large vehicles that people love and hate.
Golinowski said, “They are very efficient and move a lot people very quickly and safely. We like them.” “We think that they will be around for another 20 years.”
Airport officials eventually plan to use only the Aerotrain and not the people movers. However, they say that for now, the famous “mobile” lounges are still an important part of airport operations.