Originally published at: DOT Considering Dulles Overhaul
RFI invites industry proposals for new terminals, concourses at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Back in the '60s I flew in and out of Dulles a number of times and while a beautiful, new terminal it was unusual. You had to take a vehicle out to the plane, no getting on the plane at the gate. In the mid '70s nothing had changed. They thought it would relive the congestion at Washington National but people didn’t want to drive out to Dulles.
Plenty of major airports use vehicles to transfer passengers to/from aircraft including LHR, FRA, AMS, BRU. It is less common in the US, but it can happen.
AA is even replacing regional aircraft service with “luxury” buses on some routes.
Several American airports have satellite terminal pods detached from the main terminal and use high speed people movers to transport passengers to them from the main terminal. Seems to me that concept would be the best and least disruptive modernization for Dulles. It would be a shame to tear down the very unique and iconic main terminal building.
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