Lois Larson
Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly abbreviated to IAD, is located in Dulles, Loudoun County, Virginia. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving over 23 million passengers annually and offering flights to more than 125 destinations worldwide. The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line and is approximately 13-16 miles away from the nearest highway exits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Washington Dulles International Airport |
| Airport Code | IAD |
| Location | Chantilly, Virginia, United States |
| Address | 1 Saarinen Circle, Dulles, VA 20166, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°55′19″N 77°27′46″W |
| Elevation | 313 feet (95 m) |
| Owner and Operator | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |
| Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) UTC-04:00 |
| Serving Area | Washington, D.C. metropolitan area |
| Website | www.flydulles.com |
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What You'll Learn
- IAD stands for International Airport Dulles
- Dulles Airport is located in Loudoun County, with a small portion in Fairfax County
- It is one of the busiest airports in the US
- The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line
- The airport has been featured in several films, including Die Hard 2 and Forces of Nature
IAD stands for International Airport Dulles
Dulles International Airport is located in the unincorporated community of Dulles in Loudoun County, Virginia, with a small portion in the unincorporated community of Chantilly in Fairfax County. The closest municipality to the airport is the Town of Herndon.
The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line and is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, along with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI).
IAD is a significant aviation hub, ranking fourth in land area in the US and serving as a base for United Airlines. It is also frequently used by Star Alliance members such as Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. The airport has a vast terminal complex, including the Main Terminal and two parallel midfield terminal buildings: Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D, totalling 139 gates.
The airport has a rich history in cinema, featuring in various movies such as the disaster film sequels Airport 1975, Airport '77, and Airport '79. Dulles Airport also appeared in the 1983 comedy D.C. Cab, showcasing scenes outside the main terminal, and played a central role in the action movie Die Hard 2: Die Harder.
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Dulles Airport is located in Loudoun County, with a small portion in Fairfax County
Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a major airport serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. It is located in the unincorporated community of Dulles in Loudoun County, with a small portion in the unincorporated community of Chantilly in Fairfax County. The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line and is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving over 23 million passengers annually and offering flights to more than 125 destinations worldwide.
The airport's terminal complex consists of the Main Terminal, which includes four of the original gates known as the "Z" Gates, and two parallel midfield terminal buildings: Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D. The entire complex boasts a total of 139 gates, with 123 jetways and 16 hardstand locations where passengers can board or disembark using the airport's plane mate vehicles. Dulles is one of the few remaining airports that utilize mobile lounges or "people movers," now primarily used for transport to the International Arrivals Building and Concourse D.
The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who served as US Secretary of State under President Eisenhower. The location for the airport was selected by President Eisenhower in 1958, and it has since become a popular filming location for movies set in Washington, D.C. Notable films featuring Dulles include "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," "The Package," and "D.C. Cab."
Dulles Airport is also known for its growth and expansion. In 2004, the introduction of low-cost carrier Independence Air propelled IAD to become the fourth-busiest airport in the United States and one of the top 30 busiest airports worldwide. More recently, in 2024, IAD set a new record by serving 27.25 million passengers.
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It is one of the busiest airports in the US
Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly abbreviated to IAD, is located in Dulles, Loudoun County. A small portion of the airport is also situated in the unincorporated community of Chantilly in Fairfax County. The closest municipality to the airport is the Town of Herndon.
IAD is one of the busiest airports in the US. In 2004, the launch of low-cost carrier Independence Air propelled IAD from being the 24th busiest airport in the country to fourth, and one of the top 30 busiest in the world. As of 2024, it is the 28th busiest airport in the United States and the busiest in the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area. It also has the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the Mid-Atlantic outside the New York metropolitan area, accounting for approximately 90% of international passenger traffic in the Baltimore–Washington region.
IAD set an all-time passenger record in 2024, with 27.25 million passengers, breaking the previous record set in 2005. As of February 2025, more than 50 airlines serve the airport. The majority of the market share is held by United and United Express, while other airlines focus on international or domestic routes not served by United.
IAD is a hub for United Airlines and is frequently used by Star Alliance members such as Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, with which United has codeshare agreements. It is also a hub for regional operators Mesa, GoJet, and CommuteAir, which operate under the United Express brand.
The airport's terminal complex consists of the Main Terminal, which includes four of the original gates known as the "Z" Gates, and two parallel midfield terminal buildings: Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D. The entire complex has a total of 139 gates, 123 of which have jetways, and 16 hardstand locations where passengers can board or disembark using the airport's plane mate vehicles.
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The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located in the US state of Virginia, in the unincorporated community of Dulles in Loudoun County, with a small portion in the unincorporated community of Chantilly in Fairfax County. The Town of Herndon is the closest municipality to the airport.
The airport is accessible via the Washington Metros Silver Line:
The Washington Dulles International Airport is connected directly to the Metro's Silver Line. The underground path from the station to the terminal takes approximately five minutes, with moving walkways and escalators to help you on your way. The airport is also connected to the station via a climate-controlled pedestrian tunnel.
The maximum that Metro charges is $6 on weekdays. Fares drop to a flat $2 after 9:30 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. You can use the WMATA Trip Planner to calculate your fare.
Note that the first and last trains to service Dulles Airport may differ from the open and close times.
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The airport has been featured in several films, including Die Hard 2 and Forces of Nature
Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly known as Dulles International Airport, or simply Dulles Airport, is located 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C., in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. It is one of the nation's busiest airports, handling over 23 million passengers a day and flying to more than 125 destinations. Dulles Airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was Secretary of State under President Eisenhower.
Dulles International Airport has been featured in several films, including Die Hard 2 and Forces of Nature. The airport serves as the predominant setting for Die Hard 2, with off-duty police detective John McClane finding himself in a situation where he sees some suspicious men in the airport lounge on Christmas Eve in 1990. He follows them to the airport luggage access area and notices them tampering with the control panel for the luggage conveyor belt, leading to a shootout. The film showcases the airport's control tower, with McClane interacting with the airport police chief, Captain Carmine Lorenzo, and the Chief of Air Operations, Ed Trudeau.
The airport's unique design and architecture have made it a notable filming location. Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, known for his innovative and sculptural forms, designed the main terminal. The graceful and curving forms of Saarinen's design presented a challenge in creating a striking entrance while providing graceful access for both automobiles and pedestrians. The airport is one of the few remaining airports to utilize mobile lounges or "people movers" for transport within the airport.
In addition to Die Hard 2, Dulles International Airport has made appearances in other films such as Forces of Nature, The Package, Airport, The X-Files, and Body of Lies. The airport's prominence in these films showcases its significance and recognition as a notable location. Dulles International Airport plays a vital role in showcasing the bustling nature of air travel and has attracted filmmakers seeking dynamic backdrops for their productions.
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Frequently asked questions
The IAD airport, also known as the Dulles International Airport, is located in the unincorporated community of Dulles in Loudoun County, with a small portion in the unincorporated community of Chantilly in Fairfax County.
The IAD airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line. You can also drive to the airport by following these directions:
- Go west on I-66 to exit 67 (VA-267 W - Dulles Airport/I-495 N/Baltimore). Follow signs to the airport, approximately 16 miles from exit 67.
- Go south on I-95 to exit 27 (I 495 West - "Capital Beltway") and then take exit 45A. Follow signs to the airport, approximately 13 miles from exit 45A.
- Go north on I-95 to exit 170B (I 495 North - "Capital Beltway" in the direction of Tysons Corner) and then take exit 45.
- Go north on I-81 to I-66 East and then take exit 53 (Rt. 28 North). Follow Route 28 to the airport.
The IAD airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, ranking 28th in 2024. It is the busiest airport in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and the state of Virginia. In 2024, the airport set an all-time passenger record with 27.25 million passengers.
The IAD airport is a hub for United Airlines and regional operators Mesa, GoJet, and CommuteAir, which operate under the United Express brand. It is also frequently used by Star Alliance members such as Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.
Yes, the IAD airport has been featured in several films, including "Seven Days in May" (1964), "D.C. Cab" (1983), "Die Hard 2: Die Harder", "The Package", "Airport 1975", "Airport '77", "Airport '79", and "Forces of Nature" (1999).
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