Less that 50 years old, the Washington Dulles International Airport is one of the D.C. area's three main airports. Dedicated by John F. Kennedy in 1962, it was named for John Foster Dulles, a former US Secretary of State. The airport currently handles more than 24 million passengers annually and more than 1,000 flights daily, making it the busiest of the D.C. airports.
Dulles was one of the first airports built specifically to handle jets . . and more! The airport was actually engineered to have the capability to serve as a future spaceport, but the future hasn't quite caught up with the dreams of the past. Nevertheless, the extra long runways and tough construction have made the airport well-suited for international flights and super-jumbos.
Another unique feature of the airport is the mobile lounges. Essentially giant rooms on wheels, they move people to the planes instead of having traditional jet bridges. Travelers may want to be sure to ride on one soon, as they didn't catch on and Chrysler is planning to discontinue them. Dulles will then go to the jet bridge and moving walkway system used at the rest of the airports around the country.
Shuttle service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan International is available, although those making transfers should be aware that in traffic it can take more than an hour to get between the two airports. It can also be a long haul to get into the heart of downtown, so business travelers will want to be mindful of the thick D.C. rush hour traffic when scheduling meetings.
The 5A Metro Bus offers service to the airport, but is currently the only mass transit option available for getting to the airport. Otherwise, most travelers carpool, drive or cab it to the airport. Most hotels offer a shuttle service, and there are Super Shuttle services available throughout the D.C. area with services to Dulles.
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