President Donald Trump has unveiled a $22.5 billion plan to modernise Washington Dulles International Airport, replacing its decades-old mobile lounge system with a new passenger transport network and expanded terminal infrastructure. According to reporting by the Associated Press, the project aims to improve passenger movement, increase airport capacity and reshape one of the United States' busiest international gateways.
The proposal would eliminate the airport's widely criticised "people movers", the mobile lounges that have transported passengers between the main terminal and aircraft since the airport opened in 1962. In their place, the redevelopment would introduce a new U-shaped passenger train, a central pedestrian tunnel, additional moving walkways, new concourses and a multi-storey parking facility near the main terminal.
Speaking at the White House alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Trump described the redevelopment as part of a broader effort to improve infrastructure in the US capital region.
According to the Associated Press, Trump said the airport's long walking distances and ageing passenger transport system had made it one of the least convenient airports for travellers. He added that the redevelopment would transform Dulles into a world-class aviation hub.
The airport served around 29 million passengers over the past year, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), making it the region's primary international airport.
The modernisation plan includes:
According to Duffy, construction could begin as early as next spring, although parts of the proposal still require approval from the US Congress.
Officials said the redevelopment would be financed through municipal bonds, airport revenues and contributions from airlines operating at Dulles rather than direct federal funding.
John Potter, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said the authority, United Airlines and other airline partners had agreed to finance the project.
He said the investment would be funded through airport-generated revenue and airline contributions rather than federal taxpayer money.
However, the Associated Press reported that officials did not explain whether some project costs could eventually be recovered through higher passenger fees or ticket prices.
Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, President of Atmosphere Research Group, told the Associated Press the funding model could evolve over time.
He said taxpayers could ultimately contribute towards supporting infrastructure such as runway improvements, customs facilities and security upgrades. He also suggested passenger facility charges could eventually be introduced to help finance parts of the redevelopment.
Harteveldt added that airlines' willingness to invest reflects expectations of higher passenger volumes and expanded flight operations, although stronger demand could also contribute to higher airfares over time.
The airport's distinctive mobile lounges were introduced when Dulles opened in 1962, with the aim of reducing walking distances for passengers by transporting them directly between the terminal and aircraft.
Over the decades, however, the system has become one of the airport's most criticised features. According to the Associated Press, passengers have frequently complained about slow transfers and operational delays. Aircraft and mobile lounges can also be forced to wait for one another while crossing movement areas, affecting airport efficiency.
The issue gained renewed attention after one of the mobile lounges was involved in an accident in November, sending 18 people to hospital.
The airport has already been undergoing long-term expansion since 2000, including new parking garages, an additional runway, an upgraded air traffic control tower, pedestrian walkways and the AeroTrain system.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the first section of Concourse E is scheduled to open later this year with 14 additional United Airlines gates, expanded passenger lounges, new concessions and direct access to the AeroTrain network.
If approved, the newly announced redevelopment would become one of the largest infrastructure investments in Dulles' history and significantly reshape passenger movement across the airport over the coming years.
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