Key facts
- The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board will vote on a $19.9 billion overhaul plan for Dulles Airport.
- The plan includes $3.75 billion for new underground tunnels and replacing existing passenger transport vehicles.
- Reconstruction of the main terminal is slated to begin in late 2027 with an estimated cost of $6.2 billion.
- The total project cost of $19.9 billion excludes a large parking garage and transportation center.
- The airport experienced record passenger traffic in 2025, handling 29 million passengers.
The board overseeing Washington Dulles Airport is scheduled to vote on a $19.9 billion overhaul plan that includes significant upgrades to infrastructure and passenger facilities. The plan features $3.75 billion dedicated to constructing new underground tunnels and replacing the current slow-moving vehicles that transport passengers across the tarmac.
The reconstruction of the main terminal, a project estimated at $6.2 billion, is anticipated to commence in late 2027. The construction of the new tunnels is slated to begin in early 2029, with the aim of eliminating the "People Mover" vehicles and extending services to a new concourse. One of the planned new concourses is not expected to be completed until at least 2039. Of the total proposed $19.9 billion, $4.4 billion has already received prior approval.
This proposal follows a $22 billion plan announced last month by President Donald Trump. The current $19.9 billion proposal does not include a massive new parking garage and transportation center that was part of the earlier announcement. The overall plan encompasses 5 million square feet of new or renovated airport space and is one of the largest U.S. airport overhauls ever proposed. Funding is expected to be primarily sourced through municipal bonds, though questions have been raised about its potential impact on flight costs.
Dulles Airport experienced a record year in 2025, handling 29 million passengers, marking it as the fastest-growing large U.S. airport by passenger traffic. The airport is also set to receive a new 14-gate concourse serving United customers this fall. The airport, located approximately 25 miles from Washington D.C., first opened in 1962 and its distinctive terminal building was designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen.