Washington Dulles International Airport Guide

Washington Dulles International Airport sits in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in northern Virginia, 46 kilometers west of downtown Washington DC. Opened in November 1962 and designed by Eero Saarinen, its Main Terminal is a landmark of mid-century architecture, featuring a sweeping curved roof and large glass facades. The airport covers 13,000 acres, ranking it among the three largest by land area in the United States.

United Airlines operates its primary East Coast international hub at Dulles, controlling around 68% of flights and occupying Concourses C and D exclusively. The airport served a record 27.3 million passengers in 2024, driven by an 11% rise in international traffic. Over 40 airlines connect IAD to more than 130 nonstop destinations globally. The AeroTrain automated people mover links the Main Terminal to the midfield concourses.

Dulles gained direct rail access in 2022 with the opening of the Silver Line Metrorail extension, connecting the airport to downtown Washington DC and the broader metropolitan area. The airport is the primary international gateway for the Washington DC region and a major entry point for transatlantic and transpacific routes.