Tagging Miles

  • Saverocity
  • Home
  • About
  • Ask Tagging Miles
  • Support Us
  • Store
    • Reselling Tools
  • Guides
    • Beginner’s Guide to Fulfillment By Amazon
      • Start Here
      • Setting up an account
      • Analyzing and adding a product
      • Shipping 101
      • Shipping 201
      • Ungating Product Categories
      • Amazon Seller App
      • Amazon Seller App Part 2
    • Expert’s Guide to Fulfillment By Amazon
      • Dealing with Returns
  • Mile High Reselling Club

Confirmed: United Presence at Washington Dulles to at least 2025

October 3, 2016 By Trevor 4 Comments





The Washington Post reports that a deal has been reached that extends the United presence at Washington Dulles to at least 2025. While this isn’t quite a surprise, it does quell some perennial questions about how the Dulles hub fits into United’s network. The United presence at Washington Dulles as a hub extends back to May 1986.

United Airlines 747 with the Tulip livery

United Tulip

If there’s one thing that I’ve noticed, it is Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s focus on Dulles. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending an inaugural landing for Air China, where Governor McAuliffe highlighted his focus, to create international partnerships. Washington Dulles is his greatest pathway to that end. In fact, McAuliffe is quoted noting:

The extension of the United lease solidifies Dulles as Virginia’s gateway to the country and the world and a critical piece of our efforts to build a new Virginia economy.

Reaching a Deal to extend the United Presence at Washington Dulles

A big part of the deal, was $25 million in 2017 and 2018 to focus on lowering the costs for airlines operating out of Dulles. The funding was contingent on a longer term lease agreement–the previous United lease, signed in 2015, only extended to 2018. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), both Washington Dulles and Reagan National, so it looks like Reagan National may be getting the short end of the stick here.

What else does the deal included?

Looking at the briefing slides for the agreement amendment, the deal includes $446 Million in a new Dulles Capital Construction Program (CCP), which will include:

  • $182 Million for Terminal building upgrades, including:
    • Utility upgrades for Concourse C/D
    • Capacity enhancements to the International Arrivals facility
    • Baggage handling improvements
    • Existing aircraft gate upgrades to accommodate additional international service, including A380 modification
    • Construction of four additional domestic gates
  • $145 Million for Airfield Pavement
  • $51 Million for Passenger Conveyance Systems
  • $22 Million for Airport-Wide Utility Systems
  • $20 Million for Roads
  • $26 Million for “Other”

Perhaps the most interesting in this aspect, are the points about terminal upgrades including the A380 Modifications. Interesting, because United doesn’t have A380’s, so this is clearly more aligned with the strategic extension of international routes, or at least additional capacity. At present, Air France, British Airways, and Emirates fly the A380 to Washington Dulles,

United Presence at Washington Dulles

A380 Gate at Washington Dulles

What is missing from the deal

United primarily flights from Concourse C/D, which was originally planned as a temporary facility. The temporary facility was built in 1985! While it is great to see that there will be utility upgrades, the C/D concourses are woeful as compared to Dulles’ gorgeous A and B terminals. I would have hoped that United would have pushed for better facilities for the hub, however, I suspect that United is more focused on keeping costs low, despite aging temporary concourse.

Conclusion

Overall, this is good news. It helps to maintain the United presence, given how Star Alliance heavy the international traffic is to Dulles. Furthermore, extending the lease to 2025 should help both sides–United and Dulles–in planning mutually beneficial investments.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • LinkedIn

Filed Under: #Avgeek, Travel Tagged With: United, Washington Dulles

Trackbacks

  1. United Upgrading Gates to Accomodate A380 with New Washington Dulles Agreement - Point Me to the Plane says:
    October 3, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    […] Tagging Miles pointed out something interesting from the briefing slides for the agreement. It looks like part of the deal includes a $446 million capital construction program for up-keeping  the airport. However, the terms specific mention the modification of some existing gates to accommodate the A380. This is of course interesting, because United doesn’t fly any A380, nor do they have any on order. In fact, John Rainey, then United’s CFO in 2015, went on record saying that the A380 doesn’t work for United. […]

    Reply
  2. Solo Travel, Avgeek Socks, Staples Rewards craziness, and AMEX Platinum changes - Tagging Miles says:
    October 8, 2016 at 9:29 am

    […] that United will maintain its presence at Washington’s Dulles International Airport, and some other interesting observations of the […]

    Reply
  3. A hotel that will charge you 100 GBP if you leave them a bad review?!? - Points with a Crew says:
    October 8, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    […] United has signed a deal where they will be staying at IAD (Washington Dulles) through at least 2025 […]

    Reply
  4. Changes coming to Washington’s Reagan National Airport - Tagging Miles says:
    March 21, 2017 at 7:41 am

    […] behind security. There certainly is a lot on the MWAA’s plate, between this and Dulles’ continuing agreement with United. Not to mention the Metro connector to […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Stay in touch!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Topics

  • #Avgeek
  • Airline Programs
  • Ask TaggingMiles
  • Awards
  • Cashback Portals
  • Credit Card Match-ups
  • Credit Cards
  • Destinations
  • Dollars and Sense
  • Editorial
  • Events
  • Frequent Flyer 101
  • Giving Credit to Credit
  • Hotels
  • Manufactured Spending
  • Mileage Run
  • Miles and Points
  • Podcasts
  • Portal Update
  • Random
  • Rental Cars
  • Reselling
  • Saturday
  • Savings & Loan
  • Tagging Miles
  • The Brass Ring
  • Travel
  • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Programs
  • Uncategorized
  • Weekly News Roundup
  • Where Credit is Due

Recent Comments

  • double btc.com on Get Ebates Cashback In-Store
  • john nicholas on Tagging Miles Portal Updates – 10 December 2020
  • daftarnova88.info on Why I’m not a fan of the Amazon Seller App enhancements
  • ion club on Why I’m not a fan of the Amazon Seller App enhancements
  • Rachel on Introducing Tagging Miles Portal Updates!
Note: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The owners of this website may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links and advertisements posted on this website. For more information, please see our Legal Notice.

Copyright © 2021 · Tagging Miles

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This website uses cookies to personalize content and ads and to analyze traffic. Our ad partners may combine this information with other information you have provided them or that they've collected from your use of their services elsewhere. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more