Lois Larson
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located in Arlington County, Virginia, was previously known as Washington National Airport. The airport, which is about five miles from Washington, D.C., was renamed in 1998 by President Bill Clinton to honour the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, on his 87th birthday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | Washington National Airport |
| Current name | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| Year of name change | 1998 |
| Reason for name change | To honour former president Ronald Reagan on his 87th birthday |
| Proportion of people who refer to the airport as "Reagan" | 31% |
| Proportion of Republicans who refer to the airport as "Reagan" | 72% |
| Proportion of Democrats who call the airport "National" or "DCA" | 64% |
| Airport code | DCA |
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What You'll Learn
- Washington National Airport was built after a long and bitter controversy
- The airport was originally named after George Washington
- The airport was renamed in 1998 by President Bill Clinton
- The airport is colloquially referred to as National or Reagan National
- The airport is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Washington National Airport was built after a long and bitter controversy
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, previously known as Washington National Airport, was built after a long and bitter controversy. 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 first legislation for the airport was introduced in 1927, and it was reintroduced annually for eleven years before it was finally approved. During this period, there were already two small and inadequate airports in the area: Hoover Airport, which was privately owned, and Washington Airport, located right next to Hoover Airport. In 1930, these two airports were combined to form a single Washington-Hoover Airport. However, this new airport had significant issues, including a single runway intersected by a busy highway, which led to disruptions in both air and ground traffic. There were also numerous obstacles in the surrounding area, such as factory smokestacks and tall utility poles, which posed challenges for aircraft.
The controversy surrounding the airport's construction lasted for over a decade, and even after its opening in 1941, the debate continued. The airport underwent several expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of the North Terminal in 1958 and the enclosure of the passageway between the Main and North Terminals in 1961. The annual number of passengers grew steadily, reaching 16 million in the late 1980s and a record 22.4 million in 2014.
In 1998, the airport underwent another significant change when President Bill Clinton signed legislation to rename it from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, honouring the former president on his 87th birthday. This renaming was not without controversy, as some opponents argued that a federal building had already been named for Reagan and that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first US president. Despite this, the name change proceeded, and the airport continues to bear Reagan's name today.
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The airport was originally named after George Washington
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has a long and interesting history, dating back to colonial times. The area where the airport is located was originally known as Gravelly Point, and in 1746, Captain John Alexander built a home there called "Abingdon". The site was later purchased by John Parke Custis, the adopted stepson of President George Washington, and it was the birthplace of Washington's granddaughter, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.
The airport itself was first proposed in 1927, but it faced a long and bitter controversy, with legislation needing to be reintroduced annually for eleven years before it was finally approved. During this time, there were already two small and inadequate airports in the area: the privately owned Hoover Airport and another simply called Washington Airport, which was located right next door to the proposed site. In 1930, these two airports were combined to form the Washington-Hoover Airport, but problems persisted, including a busy highway intersecting the single runway.
The airport, originally named Washington National Airport, finally opened in 1941, and its annual number of passengers grew steadily, reaching 16 million in the late 1980s. In 1997, a new, larger terminal was opened, and in 1998, Congress passed legislation to rename the airport in honour of former President Ronald Reagan on his 87th birthday. The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, and the airport became known as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Despite the official name change, many people still refer to the airport as simply ""National" or "Reagan National", and its name continues to be a subject of some controversy, with political preferences influencing how people refer to the airport.
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The airport was renamed in 1998 by President Bill Clinton
The airport now known as the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has had a long and controversial history since its opening in 1941. Originally named the Washington National Airport, the site is steeped in historical significance, dating back to colonial times.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law that changed the airport's name to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, honouring the former president on his 87th birthday. The bill was introduced and passed in Congress, despite opposition from MWAA officials and political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. They argued that a federal building already bore Reagan's name, and that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first U.S. president.
The name change also sparked controversy among the public, with many continuing to refer to the airport as "National" or DCA instead of adopting the new name. Even today, the use of "National" or "Reagan National" can indicate how long someone has lived in the area, with some choosing not to use Reagan's name for ideological reasons.
The airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just five miles from Washington, D.C., and is the closest airport to the nation's capital. It has been a vital transportation hub for the region, serving both domestic and international flights.
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The airport is colloquially referred to as National or Reagan National
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located in Arlington County, Virginia, is colloquially referred to as "National" or "Reagan National". 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 operated by the MWAA is Dulles International Airport, located about 25 miles west of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The airport was originally named Washington National Airport when it opened in 1941. The name was changed to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on February 6, 1998, when 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., who argued that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Despite the official name change, many people still refer to the airport as "National" or "Reagan National". A 2015 online survey found that only 31% of people referred to the airport as "Reagan" and only 12% as "Reagan National", while 57% dropped the former president's name altogether. Political preference was shown to have an influence on how people referred to the airport, with 72% of Republicans using "Reagan" and 64% of Democrats calling it "National" or "DCA".
The use of the colloquial name "National" can be a source of controversy, with some people considering it a sign of how long someone has lived in the DC area. However, others may choose not to use the name "Reagan" for ideological reasons.
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The airport is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, more colloquially referred to as Reagan National or Reagan, is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The other airport in the two-airport system is the Dulles International Airport (IAD), located about 25 miles (40 km; 22 nmi) to the west in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
The Airports Authority is an independent interstate agency created by legislation enacted by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, with the consent of the United States Congress. It is financially self-sustaining, using aircraft landing fees, rents, and revenues from concessions to fund operating expenses. The Airports Authority is also responsible for capital improvements at both airports, the operation of the Dulles Toll Road, and the construction of Metrorail in the Dulles corridor.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was established in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan signed the transfer bill that authorized its creation. This bill relinquished direct federal control of National and Dulles Airports, transferring them to the Airports Authority under a 50-year lease authorized by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986. The Airports Authority officially took over the operations of Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, as well as the responsibility for capital improvements at both airports.
Reagan National Airport, the closest airport to the nation's capital, 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 U.S., handling mainly domestic and regional passenger and cargo services. The airport opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Before it was renamed in 1998, Reagan Airport was called Washington National Airport.
The airport was renamed to honour former president Ronald Reagan on his 87th birthday.
The decision was made by President Bill Clinton, who signed a bill into law to change the name.
Colloquial use varies depending on how long someone has lived in the DC area. Some refer to it as "'National", "'Reagan National'", "'DCA'", or "'Ronald Reagan National Airport'".
