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Since its opening in 1962, Washington Dulles International Airport has linked Fairfax County and the entire national capital region with the world. It is a huge driver for the area economy, and a primary reason that the county has become a global business hub with more than 430 companies from 50 countries having a presence here. And air service continues to expand with new service to U.S. and international destinations this year.

Air carriers at Dulles International provide air service to 56 non-stop international destinations and 88 non-stop U.S. destinations. Serving more than 24.7 million passengers in 2019, Dulles offers travelers 47 percent more non-stop destinations than any other airport in the region, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

“Washington Dulles International Airport’s location is ideal for companies in Fairfax County. It’s in close proximity by car and the opening of the Dulles Airport Metro Station this year will provide additional transportation options for travelers,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “The new overseas and domestic flight destinations to be added in 2020 will be beneficial to our business community, both for travel purposes and cargo shipments.”

Graphic courtesy: MWAA

Non-stop air service to new and expanded international destinations in 2020 will include, according to MWAA:

• Japan: All Nippon Airlines (ANA), United:  Each airline will begin once daily non-stop service to Tokyo-Haneda, Japan on March 28, 2020.
• Switzerland: Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) * will begin daily round-trip flights to Zurich beginning on March 29, 2020. With the addition of this new service, the National Capital region will be served by 14 weekly flights from Dulles International to Zurich on SWISS and its Star Alliance Partner, United Airlines.
• Spain: Iberia Airlines * will begin nonstop service between Madrid’s Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Dulles International from May 1, 2020 with four non-stop flights per week, expanding to five flights a week from July 6, 2020.
• Poland: LOT Polish Airlines, the flag carrier of Poland, will begin nonstop service between Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) and Dulles International on June 2, 2020, with three nonstop flights per week.

In addition, United will add domestic flights in 2020 to:

• West Palm Beach, FL: one daily round-trip beginning Feb. 13, 2020
• Akron, OH: 3 daily round-trips starting May 8 2020
• Madison, WI: 2 daily round-trips beginning May 8, 2020
• Philadelphia, PA: 4 daily round-trips starting May 8, 2020
• Bangor, ME: 2 daily round-trips beginning June 4, 2020

These announcements followed up on new destinations launched in 2019, including non-stop flights on Cabo Verde Airlines to the West African Island Cabo Verde in December 2019; TAP Air Portugal Airlines to Lisbon, Portugal in June 2019; and EgyptAir to Cairo, Egypt in June 2019.

United Airlines launched its first nonstop flight between the Washington, D.C., area and Tel Aviv, Israel from its hub at Dulles International in May 2019. Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with MWAA to facilitate launching the service.

Alitalia’s inaugural flight service from Dulles International to Rome, Italy also began in May 2019.

In addition, new domestic direct flights last year were added by United Airlines to Lexington, Ky., Ashville, N.C., Elmira, N.Y., Manchester, N.H., Ogdensburg, N.Y., Fort Myers, Fla., and Sarasota, Fla. Sun Country Airlines added nonstop flights to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minn.

Located in close proximity to Fairfax County and about 25 miles to Washington, D.C., Dulles International is accessible to the region’s highway system via an MWAA-operated, 16-mile Dulles Access Highway dedicated to airport users. The airport is connected to all major U.S. markets via the interstate highway system and more than 56% of the U.S. population resides within an overnight drive. A 23-mile expansion of the region’s Metrorail subway system that includes a station at Dulles International is under construction, with expected completion this year, 2020.

Business amenities at Dulles International include extensive cargo transport facilities. As a leading air cargo gateway centrally located in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Dulles International serves a large catchment area along the East Coast. Dulles International handles around 300 thousand tons of cargo annually and is serviced by 41 airlines providing connections to 57 international and 86 domestic destinations, according to MWAA. The airport is home to Foreign-Trade Zone #137, enabling business processes and international trade to be conducted in an efficient, low-cost environment.

In addition, three private fixed based operators (FBOs) that serve private jets are located at Dulles International: Jet Aviation,  Signature Flight Support and the Dulles Jet Center offer general aviation services. The terminals are equipped with full amenities, including executive conference rooms.

With its vast network of international and domestic flights, geographic location, and business amenities, Washington Dulles International Airport is an ideal transportation asset for companies currently located or planning to expand operations into the high-growth business location of Fairfax County.