Washington Dulles International Airport
About IAD
Overview
Washington Dulles International Airport lies about 42 kilometers west of downtown Washington, D.C., straddling Fairfax and Loudoun counties in northern Virginia. It serves as the region's primary long-haul international gateway, complementing the closer-in Reagan National. Opened in 1962 and named for former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, it was among the first U.S. airports purpose-built for the jet age.
Terminals & runways
The airport centers on Eero Saarinen's iconic main terminal, with its sweeping suspended roof, which handles ticketing and arrivals. Passengers reach two midfield concourses, A/B and C/D, via an underground people mover known as the AeroTrain. Four runways operate in parallel and crosswind configurations, supporting 24-hour activity. Ongoing capital projects continue to modernize concourses and airside facilities.
Airlines
Dulles is a major hub for United Airlines, which operates an extensive domestic network and most of its transatlantic flying from here. It also functions as a focus point for several low-cost carriers serving the capital region. Numerous foreign flag carriers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America link Dulles directly to their home markets.