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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with the airport codes DCA (IATA), KDCA (ICAO), and DCA (FAA LID), is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, just five miles from Washington, D.C. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving 26.29 million passengers in 2024. The airport first opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport. In 1998, it was renamed in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| IATA | DCA |
| ICAO | KDCA |
| FAA LID | DCA |
| Location | Arlington County, Virginia, United States |
| Distance from Washington, D.C. | 5 miles (8 km) |
| Year opened | 1941 |
| Number of terminals | 2 |
| Number of runways | 3 |
| Number of nonstop destinations | 98 |
| Hub for | American Airlines |
| Annual passengers | 26.29 million (2024) |
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What You'll Learn
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's IATA, ICAO and FAA LID identifiers
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, five miles (eight kilometres; four nautical miles) from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital and 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's IATA identifier is DCA. IATA airport codes are composed of three letters and are designated and assigned by the International Air Transport Association to airports worldwide. The DCA IATA code for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is also used as the airport's FAA LID identifier. FAA location identifiers are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and consist of three or more letters.
The ICAO identifier for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is KDCA. ICAO codes are four-letter codes assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association to airports around the world. ICAO codes are used to identify airports and to help air traffic management and other authorities distinguish between airports that serve or are near to each other.
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The airport's 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 five miles (eight kilometres; four nautical miles) from Washington, D.C., and is 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 other airport is Dulles International Airport (IAD), located about 25 miles (40 km; 22 nmi) to the west in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
The airport opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport. Its site was selected by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, and it was built on land that was underwater at the time, requiring more than 15 million cubic metres of sand and gravel to be moved to the site. When it opened, the airport facility was 115,000 square feet. The first major expansion was completed in November 1950 when a 297-foot extension to the south end of the Main Terminal added 25,110 square feet of space. Part of the original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1, while the much larger Terminal 2 opened in 1997. Terminal 2 has 1 million square feet of floor space spread over three levels, with direct connections to the Metrorail public transportation system and public parking garages via two enclosed pedestrian bridges.
In 1998, Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed a bill renaming the airport in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who was in office from 1981 to 1989. The legislation was drafted against the wishes of MWAA officials and political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Opponents argued that a large federal office building had already been named for Reagan and that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first US president.
The airport serves 98 nonstop destinations as of October 2023 and is a hub for American Airlines. It is one of the 25 busiest airports in the US and the busiest airport in the Washington metropolitan area. The airport served 26.29 million passengers in 2024, an increase of 3.3% over a record set in 2023. The airport's main runway is the busiest in the nation, averaging more than 800 takeoffs and landings daily.
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Its location and proximity to Washington, D.C
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital, situated only five miles (eight kilometres) away.
The airport is easily accessible from Washington, D.C., with its own Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines. Taxis are also readily available outside the baggage claim area, with rides into downtown D.C. costing around $15-20. Additionally, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are convenient options for travellers.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving as a hub for American Airlines and offering nonstop flights to over 98 destinations. It is one of two airports serving the Washington metropolitan area that are owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The other airport is Dulles International Airport (IAD), located 25 miles west of Washington, D.C.
The airport's proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it a popular choice for senators and representatives travelling to and from the capital. With its convenient location and transport options, the airport provides easy access to the heart of the nation's political centre.
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Reagan Airport's runways and their usage
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) has three runways: 01/19, 15/33, and 04/22. These runways are relatively short, sitting along the Potomac River in one of the most protected airspaces in the country.
Runway 01 handles approximately 57% of arrivals and is primarily used during "north operations," when planes arrive from the south and depart to the north. Runway 19 accounts for about 38% of arrivals and is used during "south operations," accommodating planes arriving from the north and departing to the south. During north operations, around 4% of intermittent arrivals occur on Runway 33, depending on traffic demands and separation requirements. Runway 33 is generally reserved for smaller aircraft due to its short length of 5,204 feet (1,586 metres). Similarly, runways 04/22, with a length of 5,000 feet (1,500 metres), are too short for commercial aircraft arrivals, but Runway 04 is sometimes used for commercial aircraft departures. Runway 04 is also restricted to smaller aircraft landings, including regional jets like the Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 and the Embraer 170 or E-190 airliners.
Reagan National Airport has some of the strictest noise restrictions in the United States. The airport has faced scrutiny and raised safety concerns due to several incidents and close calls, including a mid-air collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter in January 2025. As a result, the FAA restricted helicopter flights from the airport and extended a ban on helicopters from flying on the route where the collision occurred. The airport is one of the 25 busiest in the U.S., serving 26.29 million passengers in 2024, and its main runway is the busiest in the nation.
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Recent incidents and controversies
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with the airport codes DCA, KDCA, and LID: DCA, has been the site of several recent incidents and controversies.
On January 29, an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River close to Reagan National Airport. The collision resulted in the deaths of all 64 people on board the American Airlines jet and the three people on the helicopter. This incident brought to light the concerns about overcrowding at the airport, which handles 25 million passengers a year despite being designed for 15 million. In response, the FAA restricted non-essential helicopter operations near the airport in March, with exceptions for presidential flights, law enforcement, and lifesaving missions.
In April, two American Airlines jets carrying several lawmakers clipped wings while taxiing at Reagan Airport. While there were no injuries, this incident further highlighted the urgent need to address safety concerns at the airport.
In May, another incident occurred involving an Army helicopter and two commercial passenger jets landing at Reagan National Airport. The helicopter entered restricted airspace, forcing the jets to shift course. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy strongly criticized the Defense Department, stating that the rules regarding helicopter restrictions were crystal clear. He emphasized the need for safety and called for a reevaluation of operations to ensure the safety of the congested DCA airspace.
These incidents have led to increased scrutiny of Reagan National Airport and the surrounding airspace. The airport is one of the busiest in the country, and pilots consider it one of the most challenging to handle. The FAA has also faced criticism for an alarming number of near misses in recent years.
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Frequently asked questions
The identifier for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is DCA.
The airport code for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is KDCA.
The FAA LID for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is DCA.
The ICAO identifier for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is KDCA.
