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Dulles International Airport could gain an autonomous shuttle network, a terminal reserved for diplomatic visits or even a new operating complex that would turn its landmark main terminal into an aviation museum.
Those concepts are among more than two dozen responses to a U.S. Department of Transportation request for ways to revitalize the airport on the Fairfax-Loudoun county border. The submission period closed Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The department issued its request in early December, describing Dulles as being in disrepair and saying its planned renovations were insufficient for an international gateway serving the nation’s capital. Local leaders have challenged that assessment.
Proposals came from architecture and engineering firms, technology companies, investors and other groups. They range from sweeping multibillion-dollar redevelopments to a $150,000 pilot program for telework, yoga and meditation pods.
New York-based Rebound proposed installing eight pods—four designed for work and four for wellness activities. Its estimate includes manufacturing, shipping and installation, with no continuing operating or maintenance costs for the airport.
The company argued that smaller spaces designed around stressful moments, delays and transitions could contribute to revitalization alongside major architectural improvements.
Plans would transform the Saarinen terminal
At the other end of the scale, Vienna-based Ironbridge P3 Infrastructure proposed a redevelopment estimated at $35 billion to $55 billion.
Its plan would preserve the Eero Saarinen-designed main terminal, which opened in 1962, while repurposing it as a national aviation museum, VIP terminal and ceremonial venue. Most airport operations would move into a new terminal and concourse complex built for modern aircraft, security procedures, passenger movement and airline needs.
Spanish infrastructure operator Ferrovial submitted an estimated $18 billion plan. It would convert the Saarinen building into a departures lounge and construct a passenger-processing facility closer to the Silver Line Metro station. Ferrovial was also involved in expanding the I-66 Express Lanes outside the Capital Beltway.
Bermello Ajamil and Partners proposed another new passenger-processing facility, either attached to the historic terminal or built separately. Its concept also includes a central transition space between check-in and the gates and a Y-shaped pier for international arrivals. Renderings showed a terminal bearing President Donald Trump’s name.
The firm said its options respond to different airfield conditions and long-term development strategies while pursuing the same objective: a more efficient terminal that reinforces Dulles’ role as the country’s international gateway.
Autonomous vehicles could replace mobile lounges
Several submissions focused on moving passengers more efficiently, including alternatives to the airport’s mobile lounges. The Transportation Department cited those vehicles as an example of Dulles’ aging facilities.
Bay Area startup Glydways proposed an underground system of small, battery-electric autonomous vehicles connecting the terminals and concourses. The company expects its technology to debut in Atlanta in late 2026.
At Dulles, Glydways said the network could initially supplement the AeroTrain by extending service to Concourse D, United Airlines’ primary hub at the airport. The AeroTrain currently does not reach that concourse.
The company said its vehicles could later use retrofitted AeroTrain tunnels and potentially replace the train system while carrying the same passenger volume.
Delaware-based Eden Blue offered another approach: Direct Jet Transports that would carry travelers from a consolidated terminal to their aircraft. Its proposal also includes an express drop-off building and a new concessions area.
Eden Blue said its system would revive the excitement of being close to aircraft while shortening walks, lowering costs and improving efficiency. The company highlighted support from Saarinen’s daughter, Susan, and said the technology continues her father’s vision of taking passengers to planes.
Other applicants also made direct appeals to Trump, who has praised Saarinen while calling Dulles incorrectly designed. Ironbridge suggested naming a new concourse for the president.
Fengate Capital Management and AltitudeX Aviation Group named their partnership Terminal Redevelopment & Upgrade Management Platform Airports, or TRUMP Airports. Their proposal calls for:
- Updating existing concourses to match the new 14-gate Concourse E expected to open this year.
- Building a dedicated Head of State Terminal for diplomats and dignitaries visiting Washington.
- Replacing mobile lounges with a fully connected train network.
- Installing a microgrid capable of supplying the airport and sending excess electricity into the local grid.
Preservation groups warn against irreversible changes
The federal request also prompted the Art Deco Society of Washington and Docomomo DC to urge officials to protect Saarinen’s terminal.
Docomomo DC described the airport as a symbol of American optimism, innovation and design excellence. The group argued that modernization can proceed without sacrificing the historic building.
Deborah Chalfie, the Art Deco Society’s preservation chair, asked the Transportation Department to consider only plans that retain the terminal’s design. She noted that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has renovated and expanded Dulles previously without destroying Saarinen’s work.
Chalfie warned against repeating the demolition of New York’s original Penn Station, calling the Dulles terminal an architectural masterwork that should remain intact.
No timeline has been announced for the Trump administration to select any of the proposals. MWAA President and CEO John Potter said the authority will work with the Transportation Department and Federal Aviation Administration to evaluate the submissions.
Potter acknowledged continuing criticism of Dulles but said the airport has improved considerably over the past decade. He expressed optimism about its future.