Are you willing to pay more for your plane ticket if it means you get a new airport?
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is putting out some concrete renovation plans for Dulles International Airport, including timelines and how much all of this could cost passengers.
The plans to change Dulles are becoming very real — President Donald Trump has made his feelings known.
“This is all about the Dulles Airport remodeling,” he previously said. “It’s considered one of the worst airports anywhere in the world. We are going to make it maybe the best.”
And now the airports authority is laying out a plan for construction, most notably hoping to have work start next year to significantly expand the main iconic terminal with a dedicated walkable connection straight to a fully renovated A and B concourse.
Traveler Bola Obatusin, who was on his way to Nigeria, said he loves Dulles, but upgrades are welcome.
“It just reminds me of the Paris airport. It’s about the same with the structure,” he said. “But a new thing will always be good.”
Trish from Purcellville, Virginia is also on board with the plans.
“It really is in need of the extra terminal,” she said.
MWAA also laid out some costs: around $20 billion to make it all happen.
And sources told News4 that costs per enplanement, or CPE, are expected to rise to help fund the project, although exact figures aren’t known. Put even more simply: the price passengers pay to fly out of Dulles could go up.
Traveler Akash, who was headed to India, said he doesn’t like the idea of his plane ticket going up.
“Definitely not,” he said. “I’m not going to pay for that. I don’t want to pay for that. Of course it’s taxpayers money, so no.”
The airports authority is also expecting millions more passengers to use Dulles, which could help offset some higher ticket prices.
The full buildout is expected to stretch until the late 2030s.
MWAA’s board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss this plan.
