Washington Dulles International Airport opened its first new concourse in nearly two decades on Monday, Nov. 9, adding 14 gates and a wave of new restaurants and shops for travelers.

Concourse E, a 435,000-square-foot facility built jointly by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and United Airlines, welcomed reporters and officials at a grand opening ceremony Monday, WTOP reported. United told WTOP its first flight from the new concourse was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The concourse sits at the heart of a broader airport transformation that matters well beyond the terminal walls. Dulles is the gateway airport for Reston's technology corridor and employs nearly 8,000 United workers across the region, according to a joint press release from United and MWAA.

What's inside

The concourse connects directly to the airport's AeroTrain system, giving travelers a faster path between the main terminal and their gate. Each of the 14 gates can handle domestic and international flights, with configurations for one widebody plane or two narrowbodies, according to the press release.

Passengers will find 44,000 square feet of dining and retail, including Dos Toros Taqueria, Good Company Doughnuts & Café, Bonchon, Honor Brewing, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, Rusty Taco and a Starbucks. A Gameway video gaming lounge and duty-free shopping round out the options, according to a fact sheet published by the airports authority.

The new United Club, located across from gates E14 and E16, spans nearly 40,000 square feet with seating for more than 600 travelers. It is United's second-largest club and increases the airline's lounge space at Dulles by about 70 percent, according to the press release. The club is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The building is LEED Silver-certified, with energy-efficient systems and electric vehicle support, according to the airports authority fact sheet. Turner Construction and PGAL served as the design-build team.

Growth plans

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby called Dulles "a critical part of United's global network and growth strategy," according to the press release. MWAA President and CEO Jack Potter said opening Concourse E "is the first step in expanding the airport's capacity and enhancing the passenger experience."

The 14 new gates will allow United to fly more than 300 daily departures next summer, up from more than 250 daily flights now, according to the press release. United has increased departures from Dulles by 30 percent since 2022.

United also plans to launch its first international Airbus A321XLR service from Dulles to Amsterdam and Dublin in December, the press release stated.

Bigger picture

Concourse E is the first of four planned construction phases. Future phases could add up to 36 more United gates, a customs and immigration area for connecting travelers and one of the airline's largest Polaris lounges, according to the press release.

The concourse is part of the Dulles Global Gateway program, which the press release describes as a more than $20 billion capital investment to modernize the airport over the next decade. The Washington Business Journal reported the broader overhaul at $22.5 billion. The program includes an enhanced main terminal preserving architect Eero Saarinen's design, expanded AeroTrain service and a new U.S. Customs facility.

Construction on Concourse E began in November 2023. No official cost for the concourse has been published. Estimates have ranged widely, according to Aviacionline, which reported that an MWAA spokesperson estimated about $900 million in May while a local outlet cited $700 million in September.

United's next new destinations from Dulles include Toulouse, France, and Milan, Italy, both planned for 2027, according to the press release.