IAD down the tubes?
 

What do you think about IAD and its future? Will United leave? If so what will ACA do? Will jetBlue come?

Thanks,
767-400

I think IAD will fade away, and all the people flying out of there will drive to Richmond to fly to Europe and the Orient.

Seriously, IAD provides the majority of the Transoceanic flights for the DC area. Neither BWI nor DCA can fill that gap. So the Transatlantics will continue, and the feeders will continue. Who owns them, who knows.

welcome to FT.

In the late 60's early 70's when they built this huge airport in the middle of nowhere, everyone thought that this airport would not last long. nearly 40 years later, it is a very strong Trans-Atlantic operator.

I feel that IAD will stay for a very long time. Why else would they be doing all the great renovations to it?

Sluggo

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Gordon 'Sluggo' Valentine
AA Furloughed Flight Attendant

Sluggo is correct. When IAD was opened in the early 1960s (with the then-futuristic Eero Saarnien architecture) it was thought to be too far from central DC (although the opening of the Dulles Airport Access Road helped ease it a bit). This was before Fairfax and Loudoin counties really became developed. And for years, it was thought to be a white elephant airport because DCA was so close (and overcrowded).

IAD really started to become a major traffic airport after the deregulation of US aviation in the late 1970s. It will continue to be one given the operational restrictions/limited room for expansion at DCA, and the economic activity around the airport area.

I will add that IAD sure could use some refurbishments and renovation...the main terminal building still looks cool but is just overcrowded. And the midfield concourses are narrow, dark and cramped as well, especially when compared with other UA hub concourses at DEN and ORD.

IAD's future with UA
 

IAD is UA's gateway to Europe. Especially since UA has said that it would expand international flights (and that it already has shifted its Latin American base to IAD from MIA), IAD will remain an important hub for UA (I expect :) ). Of course, with the Expos moving to DC, every airline will need all the capacity it can get ;) .

1. Jetblue has been at IAD for quite some time now.
2. UA is beefing up its international services.
3. The newest concourse area (B) is very contemporary and pleasant - and a new underground moving-sidewalk connection from Main to B will be opening very soon.
4. The unpleasant concourses (C/D) are officially "temporary". Permanent replacements for C/D (similar to B) will be built in coming years.
4. Subway system is being built now to largely replace "moon buggies".
5. Two parking garages (8,000+ spaces) opened since 2002. Fourth runway in the planning stage now. See more development plans at http://mwaa.com/d2/index.htm

I think IAD will be around for a very long time....

By the way, the airport access road opened at the same time as the airport - in 1962.

Subway?
 

Annandaler is right that there will be a subway, but I wouldn't count on it anytime soon. I believe that someone mentioned 2009 as a target when I was last on one of the moon buggies (though my memory could be wrong--or they could be wrong). IAD is not a fun place and is difficult to get around (though thanks to Ozstamp's recommendation some time ago, I now go to the security line by Aeroflot, which is far less crowded than the main one by UA :) ). But it does service UA (and is the closest airport to my house!).

Speaking of Subways...
 

I know it will be a while, but once Metro is expanded and travelers can get to and from the airport from downtown IAD will become an even better option for residents of DC and tourists alike.

Future and Northern Virginia
 

All of those reasons above. Dulles will be here for a very long time. Northern Virginia is one of the fastest growing residential and commercial areas in the U.S., and Dulles is the primary airport for those folks.

I hope it's around until at least 2012. I bought some airport authority tax-free muni bonds several years ago that mature in 2012. I guess I own that taxiway light right outside Gate C-17....