Washington Airports Authority and United Sign Permit to Improve Facilities at Dulles

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and United Airlines announced last week that they have signed a permit enabling United to begin construction of facility improvements at Washington Dulles International Airport that are expected to provide all United and United Express customers with better access, more convenient connections and an improved travel experience overall. Construction is expected to begin within a week. The cost of the project is expected to be no more than $22 million.

"We have designed a facility that will provide full customer service capabilities, convenient connections and easy access to both Dulles-based United Express customers and passengers who connect to United and other flights through IAD," said Pete McDonald, United's Executive Vice President - Operations. "United is committed to providing competitive fares and our full schedule of flights for our customers in the Washington area and the spoke cities served to and from Dulles International Airport."

James E. Bennett, President of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said, "United has been an anchoring partner at Dulles International Airport for many, many years. We are pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that supplies United Express with the operational facilities they may need, and also promises to provide Washington area consumers good service and a broad array of flights and destinations to choose from for the future."

United will construct a customer waiting area on the C30 ramp area and a larger United Express passenger terminal and gate in an area designated on the F apron. Approximately half of all United Express flights will continue to leave from the C and D concourses and, with the addition of a new United Express terminal and gates, United and United Express passengers will no longer need to transfer to another concourse at IAD. That means the travel experience for all United passengers at IAD will be more comfortable, more convenient and simple. This facility solution will give passengers easier access to connecting flights, to customer service and check-in kiosks and the three United Red Carpet Club, as well.

The F-Apron passenger waiting area is designed to be a full-service facility as well where customers can check in, proceed through gate readers and board aircraft. This design includes a sizeable passenger seating area; covered, climate-controlled walkways to aircraft; a full staff of United Express employees including, customer service representatives, ramp and maintenance personnel; food and beverage concessions and baggage operations situated nearby.

This facility is modeled after many very successful similar operations run by United and other major airlines at airports including Dallas, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

FMI: www.united.com