Eero Saarinen's iconic gateway to the U.S. capital region.
Opened
1962
Location
Dulles, United States
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a major international airport serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, located approximately 26 miles west of downtown Washington in Dulles, Virginia. It is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The airport is renowned for its striking terminal building designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, completed in 1962 and considered a landmark of mid-20th century modernist architecture. Dulles serves as a primary hub for United Airlines and handles a significant volume of transatlantic and international traffic.
In recent years, the airport has been connected to the Washington Metro rail network via the Silver Line extension, improving transit access to the region. Dulles handles tens of millions of passengers annually and supports numerous cargo operations alongside its passenger services.
Terminals
The airport features one main terminal (the historic Saarinen-designed main terminal) and four concourses (A, B, C, and D), with passengers transported to midfield concourses via mobile lounges or an underground AeroTrain people mover.
Getting to & from
Dulles is accessible by the Washington Metro Silver Line (Dulles International Airport station), the Dulles Toll Road, and various bus and shuttle services connecting to the greater D.C. area.
Airlines here
United Airlines uses Dulles as a major hub, with additional service from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and numerous other international carriers.
Notable facts
- ›Eero Saarinen's terminal building, opened in 1962, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- ›The airport was the first in the United States designed specifically to accommodate jet aircraft.
- ›Unique mobile lounges (now partly replaced by the AeroTrain) were originally used to transport passengers between the terminal and aircraft.
- ›The Silver Line Metro extension to Dulles opened in November 2022, ending the airport's long isolation from rail transit.
- ›Dulles covers approximately 11,830 acres, making it one of the largest airports by land area in the United States.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
