Key facts
- The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board approved a $19.9 billion plan to overhaul Washington Dulles International Airport.
- The project includes $6.2 billion for main terminal reconstruction starting late 2027 and $3.75 billion for new underground tunnels.
- New tunnels are slated to replace current passenger transport vehicles and are expected to be completed by 2034.
- The Biden administration has funded $4.4 billion for a new Terminal E, while the remaining $15.5 billion will be financed through bonds and $1.1 billion from passenger facility charges.
The board overseeing Washington Dulles International Airport has approved a $19.9 billion plan to modernize the facility. The project includes a $6.2 billion reconstruction of the main terminal, scheduled to begin in late 2027, and $3.75 billion for new underground tunnels to replace current passenger transport vehicles, with construction expected to start in early 2029 and be completed by 2034. Officials noted that the Trump administration accelerated the planning process for this modernization. Construction on a new Terminal E is already underway, funded with $4.4 billion from the Biden administration. The remaining $15.5 billion of the plan will be financed through Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority bonds, paid by airlines, with passenger facility charges contributing an additional $1.1 billion. The full buildout is anticipated to take approximately 15 years.