Lois Larson
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, just five miles from Washington, D.C. The airport was originally named Washington National Airport when it opened in 1941, but on February 6, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed legislation to change the name to honour former president Ronald Reagan on his 87th birthday. The airport is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the other being Dulles International Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| Airport Location | Arlington County, Virginia, USA |
| Airport Code | DCA |
| Airport Type | Public |
| Owner | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |
| Hub for | American Airlines |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Elevation | 12 ft / 4 m |
| Website | www.flyreagan.com |
| Nearest Airport | Washington Dulles International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport history
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. It is located just five miles from Washington, D.C., making it the closest airport to the nation's capital. It is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The airport first opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport.
The airport has two terminals. Part of the original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1, while Terminal 2, which opened in 1997, is newer and larger. Terminal 2 replaced a collection of airline-specific terminals built during the 1960s. Terminal 1 contains gates A1–A9 and is home to operations from Air Canada Express, Frontier, and Southwest, with Southwest having the largest presence. Terminal 2 features several airport lounges, including three American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a United Club.
The airport has undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years. In 2014, it was announced that the airport would undergo additional renovations, including upgraded concessions and further structural improvements, which were completed in 2015. The exterior of the terminal has also been restored, with the airside façade restored in 2004 and the landside façade restored in 2008. The terminal underwent a $37 million renovation that modernised the airport's look with brighter lighting, more windows, and new flooring.
On February 6, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed legislation changing the airport's name from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to honour the former president on his 87th birthday. This decision was made against the wishes of MWAA officials and political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. who argued that a large federal office building and an international trade centre had already been named for Reagan. The bill did not provide funding for the name change, and local authorities had to bear the expense of updating signs and transit information.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport terminals
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also known as Reagan Airport, Reagan National Airport, or simply National Airport, is located in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital, just five miles from Washington, D.C. The airport is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The other airport is Dulles International Airport, located about 25 miles west.
The airport originally opened in 1941 as Washington National Airport. In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed legislation to rename the airport after Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, to honour him on his 87th birthday. The airport's original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1, while the much larger Terminal 2 opened in 1997. Terminal 1, which contains gates A1–A9, is home to airlines such as Air Canada Express, Frontier, and Southwest. Terminal 2 features several lounges, including three American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Delta Sky Club.
The airport has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including a $37 million renovation project completed in 2014 that modernised the airport's look with brighter lighting, more windows, and new flooring. The airport is also home to Coast Guard Air Station Washington and is one of the 25 busiest airports in the United States.
Despite the official name change, some people continue to refer to the airport as "National Airport" or simply "National," especially those who disagreed with Reagan's policies. The renaming was controversial, with opponents arguing that a federal building had already been named after Reagan and that the airport was originally named for George Washington, the first president of the United States.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport name change
On February 6, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law that changed the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The airport, located in Arlington County, Virginia, is about five miles from Washington, D.C., and is the closest airport to the nation's capital.
The bill was introduced and passed in Congress to honour the former president on his 87th birthday. However, the legislation was drafted against the wishes of MWAA officials and political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Opponents argued that a federal building had already been named for Reagan and that the airport was already named after George Washington, the first U.S. president.
The airport, which opened in 1941, was originally named Washington National Airport. Part of the original terminal, which underwent a $37 million renovation in the early 2000s, is still in use as Terminal 1. The much larger Terminal 2 opened in 1997.
Despite the official name, some people continue to refer to the airport as "National Airport" or simply "National," especially those who disagreed with Reagan's policies.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport passenger numbers
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, previously known as Washington National Airport, is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. The airport is located approximately five miles from Washington, D.C., and is the closest airport to the nation's capital.
The airport's passenger numbers have fluctuated over the years. In its inaugural year, 1941, the airport served 344,257 passengers, with the number reaching one million in 1946. The annual number of passengers grew steadily, reaching 15 to 16 million in the 1990s, with a slight dip following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In 2014, the airport reached a record high of 22.4 million annual passengers.
The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 2 being the newer and larger of the two. Terminal 1, which opened in 1941, still retains part of its original architecture and houses operations from Air Canada Express, Frontier, and Southwest. Terminal 2 opened in 1997, replacing the airline-specific terminals built during the 1960s.
While the airport is officially named after Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, it is often referred to simply as "Reagan Airport" or "National Airport" by locals.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport archaeological site
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is located on land that was once the site of the 18th and 19th-century Abingdon Plantation. The plantation was associated with prominent families, including the Alexanders, Custises, Stuarts, and Hunters, and was the home of George Washington's granddaughter. The land was originally granted to Robert Howson in 1669, who sold it to John Alexander for 6,000 pounds of tobacco. The first house was likely built in the 1740s by Gerard Alexander I, John's great-grandson. In 1930, the abandoned plantation burned to the ground.
The airport itself opened in 1941 as Washington National Airport. In 1998, Congress passed a bill to rename the airport in honour of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, who served from 1981 to 1989. The bill was signed by President Bill Clinton on 6 February 1998, on what would have been Reagan's 87th birthday.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which operates the airport, has undertaken several historic preservation projects, including the restoration of the Abingdon site. The preservation of the Abingdon Plantation site and the creation of the Exhibit Hall are part of the ongoing Capital Development Program at the airport. Today, travellers can walk among the remains of the plantation and view informational placards detailing its history. Portions of the brick foundation of two structures—the Main House and Kitchen—are preserved at the site, along with a historical display of artefacts collected from the site in an exhibit hall in Terminal A. Terminal A is the original historic terminal from 1941 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, just five miles from Washington, D.C. It is one of two airports owned by the federal government that serve the Washington metropolitan area, the other being Dulles International Airport. The airport has two terminals (A and B) with five concourses, primarily serving domestic flights and a few airports in Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The airport was originally called Washington National Airport.
The airport changed its name on February 6, 1998, when President Bill Clinton signed the legislation.
The airport was renamed to honour former president Ronald Reagan on his 87th birthday.
The airport was designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli.
