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Dulles International Airport leaders are pursuing more service to Asia after spending 2024 building relationships with airlines across the region.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority staff attended three conferences in Asia and held 51 face-to-face meetings promoting Dulles and the Washington region. Officials hope those efforts will produce additional flight options in 2025.

Paul Bobson, MWAA’s vice president of airline business development, told an authority committee on Jan. 15 that personal connections are particularly important in the Asian market.

However, significant barriers remain. Service between Dulles and China is limited to two flights per week, while Russia’s war in Ukraine has complicated nonstop routes between Asia and the U.S. East Coast.

Even with those constraints, airport officials see opportunities for expansion. Bobson identified Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City and several cities in India as potential destinations.

MWAA can provide up to 24 months of marketing support for new service, Bobson said in response to questions from board members. The authority does not waive or discount the facility costs charged to airlines.

The push comes as Dulles reaches new highs. CEO Jack Potter said the airport’s final 2024 passenger total was expected to surpass 27 million, which would be the largest annual count in its 63-year history. Dulles had already set an international-passenger record in 2023.

Reagan National Airport was expected to report 26 million passengers for 2024. Both airports also recorded their busiest holiday season, Potter said.

Chryssa Westerlund, MWAA’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer, said the two Northern Virginia airports generated record parking revenue and concession sales during 2024.

United Airlines, already Dulles’ dominant carrier, also announced plans for a major expansion at the airport. Potter told the board that MWAA’s partnership with United was stronger than at any point in its 40-year history.