Projected completion date of IAD Terminal B extension?
 

As I taxied past the new gates of Terminal B, I noticed the carpet and chairs in the waiting areas have been installed, the flight status monitors are powered up and it looks ready for passengers! However, the area near the escalators that would access the underground train is still under construction.

I know the grand opening date is set for some time in 2009 but I was wondering if anyone knew if the terminal extension portion was slated to open earlier. Since it can be accessed through the original portion of B, I don't see why not.

Any news?

The Concourse B expansion should open by the spring of 2008. The train (Aerotrain) system be running until sometime in 2009.

When the expansion opens you will be able to walk through the existing Concourse B to the additional gates. That will be quite a walk, though - so they will be running Mobile Lounges from the Main Terminal directly to the new part of Concourse B until the train system is running.

The MWAA website says it will be completed in August 2008.

True. But an MWAA official told me last week that they are trying to get it open earlier than August as there is a big demand for the additional gates - and summer travel also increases the seasonal demand for gates. We'll see how it goes.

Who will be occupying the additional gate? I believe I read that AA would be moving there but haven't heard anything else.

Great news about the Terminal B expansion being so far along. It'll be interesting to see who moves in there.

I know DL already announced a IAD-LAX route that will be starting soon using their new 73H aircraft - here's hoping to some more transcon. options!

Is DL taking more gates on Conc. B? I hope B6 gets some room to spread its wings. I assume WN will take some more space as well.

I've heard rumors that AA, BA, and B6 will move to the new gates. If that happens I wonder if UA will take over the current AA and BA gates in D.

VX will move from D Concourse to B when gates become available. Not sure if they will be next to VS. Not sure if both of them will move to the new B gates.

Why is it that UA is the biggest customer at IAD but is stuck with the crappy C and D gates?

The new C/D was put on hold after 9/11. I don't think UA wants to pay the higher fees associated with a new terminal. They're not buying new aircraft, and so far haven't recommitted to a new C/D terminal. Hopefully they'll commit soon now that they have expanded their flights at IAD.

Exactly. And additional pressure will be on them when the Aerotrain starts operation connecting the various Dulles buildings. But the Aerotrain won't go to the D Concourse at all. And it will have a station serving the C Concourse - but that station is actually where the yet-to-be-built C Concourse is with a walkway back to the current C Concourse. Not a great situation, especially for those connecting between A and D.

One of the mobile lounge drivers told me yesterday that the B expansion will come into service mid-January. Driving around it on the shuttle from Main to D, you can see the exterior is completely finished, the jetways are ready to be used, all the ground markings for positioning planes and equipment is done, and all construction operations are limited to the area of the B Concourse West Aerotrain station.

It is indeed opening mid-January - but it sounds like a phased opening as not all 12 gates will be in use right away from what I'm hearing.

Which carriers are slated to operate from the first phase?