Roberta Aguirre
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a major hub for domestic and international air travel, with a mixture of legacy and low-fare carriers. The airport has a total of 113 airline gates across Concourses A, B, C, D, and Z. With all future expansion plans completed, the airport could accommodate 70 million annual passengers operating out of 250 airline gates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Washington Dulles International Airport |
| Location | Chantilly, Virginia |
| Area | 11,184 acres |
| Number of Gates | 113 |
| Number of Concourses | 4 |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Parking Garages | 2 |
| Number of Cargo Buildings | 7 |
| Number of Food and Retail Shops | 100 |
| Number of Lounges | 10+ |
What You'll Learn
Gate Breakdown by Concourse
Washington Dulles International Airport has 113 airline gates across Concourses A, B, C, D, and Z.
Concourse A
Concourse A has 43 gates in total, including 31 United Express Commuter gates and 12 mainline gates. Gates A1A to A6A are located in a separate wing of the concourse, accessible via a pedestrian bridge. The remaining gates are accessible on the upper level and by walking down the main concourse. Concourse A is home to international carriers such as Aer Lingus, ANA, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, and others. It also features lounges by Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad Airways.
Concourse B
Concourse B has 28 gates and is home to American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, and a few other airlines. It features lounges by British Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Lufthansa. Dining options include &pizza and Five Guys, and retail options include Ralph Lauren and Tumi.
Concourse C
Concourse C has 23 gates and is used exclusively by United Airlines. It features three United Club lounges and a United Polaris Lounge. Starbucks and Brookstone are among the shopping and dining options available.
Concourse D
Concourse D has 27 gates and is also used exclusively by United. It features a United Club lounge, two Dunkin' locations, a Pizza Hut, and a Starbucks.
Concourse Z
Concourse Z is the smallest, with only four gates. It is located directly off the main terminal and features a Subway and a Dunkin'.
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Transport Between Concourses
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has a main terminal building with two parallel midfield terminal buildings: one long building housing Concourses A and B, and another housing Concourses C and D. The airport also has a small handful of Z gates located in the main terminal building.
The AeroTrain is an automated rail service that runs underground between the terminal and Concourses A, B, and C. The AeroTrain is a quick option for passengers travelling to and from their gates, taking just two minutes between stations.
Passengers can walk from the main terminal to Concourse A via an underground tunnel with moving walkways. They can then walk from Concourse A to B within the terminal itself. Concourses A and B are interlinked, as are Concourses C and D, so passengers may walk between concourses to use the facilities.
To get to Concourse D, passengers should walk from Concourse C. The AeroTrain does not currently serve Concourse D.
The airport's 'mobile lounges' or 'people movers' are half jet bridge/half bus. They elevate up to the aircraft door, and passengers disembark directly into the people mover to be transported to the terminal or concourse. The people movers operate between the main terminal and Concourse D, Concourse D and Concourse A, and international arriving flights to the main terminal and customs area.
There is also a 1,000-foot underground pedestrian walkway that connects the main terminal with Concourse B, featuring moving sidewalks in both directions.
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Gate Transport History
The history of gate transport at Dulles International Airport (IAD) has evolved over the years, from the early days of mobile lounges to the modern AeroTrain system. When the airport first opened in 1962, passengers were transported from the terminal to their aircraft using mobile lounges, which were specially designed vehicles that could carry up to 102 passengers. These mobile lounges, also known as "people movers" or "plane mates", were unique to Dulles Airport and offered a convenient way to move passengers between the terminal and their gates.
As the airport grew and expanded, it became clear that a more efficient transportation system was needed. In 2004, a 1,000-foot underground pedestrian walkway with moving sidewalks was opened between the main terminal and Concourse B, providing passengers with an alternative route to access the gates. This was particularly useful for passengers who wanted to get some steps in or preferred not to use the mobile lounges.
However, the mobile lounges remained in operation, especially for international flights and transportation between the main terminal and the midfield concourses. In 2010, a new era of gate transport began with the introduction of the AeroTrain, an automated train system that operates underground between the main terminal and the concourses within the secure area. The AeroTrain provides a quick and convenient option for passengers travelling to and from their gates, with a maximum of two minutes between stations.
While the AeroTrain has largely replaced the mobile lounges, they have not been completely phased out. The mobile lounges are still in use for transportation between the main terminal and Concourse D, as well as for international arriving flights to the customs area in the main terminal. Additionally, plane mates are used to transport passengers to and from aircraft parked on hardstands without direct access to jet bridges.
With the ongoing development and expansion of Dulles Airport, it is likely that the gate transport system will continue to evolve to accommodate the increasing number of passengers and gates. The airport has plans for future expansion, including the addition of several new midfield concourses and a new south terminal, which will require further enhancements to the transportation system to ensure efficient and seamless travel for passengers.
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Gate Dining Options
Washington Dulles International Airport has a wide variety of dining options for hungry travellers. The airport has over 40 restaurants, cafes and fast-food counters, from Starbucks to Five Guys.
The main terminal has the most options outside of the secure area, with the lower level having the most choice. Each concourse also has a range of dining options inside the secure area.
Concourse A
Concourse A has 31 United Express commuter gates and 12 mainline gates. There is a good range of fast food and sit-down restaurants, including Dunkin' and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck. There is also the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Air France-KLM Lounge, Etihad First and Business Class lounges, and a chapel.
Concourse B
Concourse B has 28 gates and is home to American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Aer Lingus, and a few other select airlines. Dining options include &pizza and Five Guys, and there are shops such as Ralph Lauren and Tumi. The Turkish Airlines Lounge, British Airways Galleries Lounge, and Lufthansa Lounge are also located in Concourse B.
Concourse C
Concourse C has 23 gates and is home to United flights only. Dining options include Starbucks and Brookstone. There are three United Club lounges and a United Polaris Lounge.
Concourse D
Concourse D has 27 gates and is home to United at Dulles. Dining options include two Dunkin' locations, a Pizza Hut, and a Starbucks. There is also a United Club lounge.
Concourse Z
Concourse Z is located directly off the main terminal and has four gates. Dining options are limited to a Subway and a Dunkin'.
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Gate Lounges
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has a total of 113 airline gates across its concourses. The airport has a main terminal with four original 'Z' gates, and two parallel midfield terminal buildings: Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D.
Concourse A has 31 United Express Commuter gates and 12 mainline gates. There are several lounges in Concourse A, including the Air France-KLM Lounge, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, the Etihad First and Business Class lounges, and a chapel.
Concourse B has 32 mainline gates. The Turkish Airlines Lounge, British Airways Galleries Lounge, and Lufthansa Lounge are all based in Concourse B, and there are food and dining options, including &pizza and Five Guys, and shops such as Ralph Lauren and Tumi.
Concourse C has 22 United mainline gates. There are three United Club lounges and a United Polaris Lounge in Concourse C, as well as shopping and dining options, including Starbucks and Brookstone.
Concourse D has 24 United mainline gates. Aside from a United Club lounge, there are two Dunkin' locations, a Pizza Hut, and a Starbucks.
Concourse Z has four mainline gates and is located directly off the main terminal. There is a Subway and a Dunkin' in Concourse Z.
Passengers can move between concourses via a pedestrian walkway or the AeroTrain.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 113 airline gates at Dulles Airport.
Concourse A has 43 gates, Concourse B has 32, Concourse C has 22, Concourse D has 24, and Concourse Z has 4.
Yes, with all future expansion plans in the master plan constructed, the airport could accommodate 70 million annual passengers operating out of 250 airline gates.
The airport served more than 25 million passengers in 2023, with about a third of its passenger traffic from international flights.
United Airlines operates from Concourses C and D.
