
Dulles International Airport, now known as Washington Dulles International Airport, was named after John Foster Dulles, the late Secretary of State who served under President Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. Dulles was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962, and has since become one of the fastest-growing airports in the world, providing over 15,000 jobs and billions in revenue for the surrounding communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) |
| Named after | John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State under President Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959 |
| Year of name change | 1984 |
| Previous name | Dulles International Airport |
| Year of dedication | 17 November 1962 |
| Dedicated by | President John F. Kennedy |
| Year of construction | 1958-1962 |
| Site selected by | President Eisenhower |
| Site selected in | 1958 |
| Year of proposal for name change to Donald J. Trump International Airport | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
- Dulles Airport was named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State under Eisenhower
- Dulles was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962
- The airport's original name was Dulles International Airport
- The airport's name was chosen by Eisenhower's aviation advisor Pete Quesada
- Dulles is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world

Dulles Airport was named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State under Eisenhower
Dulles International Airport was named after John Foster Dulles, who served as President Eisenhower's Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959. Dulles was a prominent figure in American politics and diplomacy, with a career spanning several decades.
Dulles first entered the world of diplomacy in 1917 when his uncle, then-Secretary of State Robert Lansing, recruited him to travel to Central America. During this time, he advised on matters relating to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, encouraging anti-German sentiment in the region. He continued to climb the diplomatic ranks, serving as legal counsel to the United States delegation at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1918, where he made an impression as a junior diplomat.
Dulles also played a significant role in international finance. As a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, he was involved in designing the Dawes Plan, which addressed German reparations payments following World War I. However, his career was not without controversy. After the Nazi Party's rise to power, Dulles expressed sympathies for Adolf Hitler, creating a public relations issue for his firm.
The airport, originally named Dulles International Airport, was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962. It was later renamed Washington Dulles International Airport in 1984. The airport has become a major gateway for domestic and international travellers, contributing significantly to the region's economy.
Over the years, there have been proposals to rename the airport, including suggestions such as "Washington Eisenhower International Airport" and "Donald J. Trump International Airport." However, the name Dulles International Airport remains, honouring John Foster Dulles' legacy and his contributions to American diplomacy.
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Dulles was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962
Dulles International Airport was named after John Foster Dulles, the late Secretary of State who served under President Dwight Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. Dulles played a major role in designing the Dawes Plan, which reduced German reparations payments after World War I. He also had an early career as a diplomat, advising Washington to support Costa Rican dictator Federico Tinoco due to his anti-German stance. Dulles even encouraged Nicaragua's dictator, Emiliano Chamorro, to sever diplomatic ties with Germany.
The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962, and it was a significant event for several reasons. Firstly, it symbolised America's progress into the jet age and served as an impressive gateway to the nation's capital. The airport's striking Terminal Building, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, became a landmark known for its graceful beauty. The dedication ceremony was attended by former President Eisenhower, members of the Dulles family, dignitaries, and thousands of spectators.
The airport's original name was Dulles International Airport, but it was renamed Washington Dulles International Airport in 1984. The site for the airport was selected by President Eisenhower in 1958, and construction began on September 2, 1958, with completion in 1962. The terminal building was designed to be expandable, and it featured a distinctive glass-enclosed control tower cab, providing unobstructed views for air traffic controllers.
Dulles Airport has played a significant role in aviation history. In 1990, a United States Air Force plane was flown from California to Dulles, setting a coast-to-coast speed record at an average of 2,124 mph. Additionally, in 1995, the first commercial flight of the Boeing 777-200 landed at Dulles, operated by United Airlines on its London Heathrow-Washington Dulles route.
Dulles Airport has also been the subject of several name change proposals. In 1990, a joint resolution was introduced to rename it the Washington Eisenhower International Airport, but it did not pass. More recently, House Republicans proposed renaming it after former President Donald J. Trump. Despite these suggestions, the airport retains its original namesake, honouring John Foster Dulles and his contributions to American diplomacy and international finance.
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The airport's original name was Dulles International Airport
Dulles International Airport is located in Loudoun County, Virginia, and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world. It is a major East Coast gateway for domestic and international travellers and cargo activities. The airport has been a significant source of economic growth for the surrounding communities, providing over 15,000 direct jobs and billions of dollars in business revenue.
The airport was conceived in early planning sessions in 1959 and construction began on September 2, 1958, after President Eisenhower selected the site. It opened four years later, in 1962, with a strikingly beautiful and compact terminal building that became a landmark for travellers worldwide. The terminal was designed by the famed Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and is highly regarded for its graceful beauty, suggestive of flight.
The original name, Dulles International Airport, was changed in 1984 to Washington Dulles International Airport. However, the airport has drawn attention due to a recent proposal by House Republicans to rename it after former President Donald Trump. In 1990, a similar proposal was made to change the name to Washington Eisenhower International Airport, but the bill did not pass.
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The airport's name was chosen by Eisenhower's aviation advisor Pete Quesada
The name of Dulles International Airport was chosen by President Eisenhower's aviation advisor, Pete Quesada, who later became the first head of the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport was originally named Dulles International Airport, but in 1984, it was renamed Washington Dulles International Airport.
The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and former President Eisenhower on November 17, 1962, and was named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. Dulles served as Eisenhower's Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959. Dulles was prominent in the religious peace movement and an isolationist. He played a major role in designing the Dawes Plan, which reduced German reparations payments after World War I.
Dulles was also involved in brokering international loans and had a notable early career as a junior diplomat. He advised Washington to support Costa Rican dictator Federico Tinoco due to his anti-German stance and encouraged Nicaragua's dictator, Emiliano Chamorro, to sever diplomatic ties with Germany. In Panama, he offered a waiver on the tax imposed by the US on the annual Canal fee in exchange for a Panamanian declaration of war on Germany.
In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Dulles as legal counsel to the US delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference, where he served under his uncle, Secretary of State Robert Lansing. Dulles impressed many with his forceful arguments against imposing heavy reparations on Germany, though some sources suggest he ensured Germany's reparation payments would extend for decades.
There have been several attempts to rename the airport. In 1990, a joint resolution was proposed to change the name to Washington Eisenhower International Airport, but the bill did not pass. More recently, House Republicans have proposed changing the name to Donald J. Trump International Airport, sparking debate among lawmakers and community members.
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Dulles is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world
Dulles International Airport, now known as Washington Dulles International Airport, is named after John Foster Dulles, who served as President Eisenhower's Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959. Dulles played a significant role in shaping US foreign policy during this period, particularly regarding the containment of communism.
Dulles International Airport is indeed one of the fastest-growing airports in the world. Located in the Washington, D.C., area, Dulles emerged at the turn of the 21st century as a major gateway for domestic and international travellers and cargo activities. The airport's growth has brought economic prosperity to the surrounding communities, generating over 15,000 direct jobs and significant business revenue.
The airport's master plan, conceived in the early planning sessions in 1959, has been instrumental in its expansion. Dulles is one of the few airports that utilise mobile lounges or "people movers", which have become a unique feature of the airport's operations. However, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has introduced the AeroTrain, an underground people mover, to enhance inter-terminal connectivity.
The main terminal, designed by the renowned Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, is renowned for its graceful beauty and has become a landmark for travellers worldwide. The terminal's design considered future expansion, and subsequent developments have realised this potential. The Dulles Development Program (D2), launched in 2000, further propelled the airport's growth, solidifying its position as one of the world's fastest-growing airports.
The airport's growth in passenger traffic is also attributed to the launch of low-cost carriers like Independence Air in 2004, which boosted Dulles' ranking from the 24th-busiest airport in the US to the fourth, placing it among the top 30 busiest airports globally. Dulles' strategic location and expanding infrastructure continue to attract travellers and contribute to its rapid development.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was named after John Foster Dulles, the late Secretary of State who served under President Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959.
The name was chosen by Eisenhower's aviation advisor, Pete Quesada, who later became the first head of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The name Dulles International Airport was chosen in 1958, and it was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962.
No, the airport's name was changed in 1984 to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Yes, in 1990, a bill was proposed to change the airport's name to Washington Eisenhower International Airport, but it did not pass. More recently, there has been a proposal to rename the airport after former US President Donald Trump.

































