Washington Dulles International Airport is getting a massive facelift, and the change travelers may notice most is the disappearance of its infamous “people movers.”
President Donald Trump announced the $22.5 billion renovation plan Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling Dulles “the worst airport” and pledging to turn it into something “spectacular.” The overhaul is one of several high-profile construction projects the president has taken a personal interest in around the capital, alongside a new White House ballroom and a proposed triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
Out With the Mobile Lounges
For decades, Dulles has relied on its mobile lounges, boxy, bus-like vehicles that ferry passengers from the terminal directly out to their planes on the tarmac. Introduced when the airport opened in 1962, the lounges were originally marketed as a futuristic convenience. Over time, they became one of the most complained-about parts of flying through Dulles, with the airport currently running a fleet of 19 lounges that can each hold about 100 passengers.
Under the new plan, those lounges will be phased out entirely. In their place:
- A new underground, U-shaped passenger train connecting all the concourses
- A central walking tunnel and additional moving walkways
- Two rebuilt concourses, replacing the current C and D terminals
- More than 5 million square feet of new or renovated space
- An above-ground parking garage with room for 32,000 vehicles
The original Eero Saarinen-designed main terminal, with its iconic sloped roof, will be preserved and refreshed rather than replaced.
Who’s Paying for It
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the project won’t rely on federal funding. Instead, it will be financed through $22.5 billion in bonds, with United Airlines and other participating carriers covering the costs.
Trump said the final design was chosen after reviewing more than 30 proposals from architecture and engineering firms, some of which reportedly built 3D models at his request so he could visualize the options himself.
Why It Matters
Dulles serves roughly 29 million passengers a year as the Washington region’s primary international gateway. The mobile lounges have long been a sore spot for travelers, with one frequent flyer describing them as a “mobile torture chamber.” Officials say the new train and walkway system will move people through the airport faster and more efficiently once construction wraps up.
No firm completion date has been announced.
