President Donald Trump is set to unveil a $22.5 billion renovation plan for Washington Dulles International Airport, replacing its controversial mobile lounges with underground trains and expanding terminal capacity. The project, which preserves the iconic Saarinen-designed main terminal while overhauling interior infrastructure, marks the latest in a series of presidential infrastructure interventions during his second term.

Trump’s hands-on role in Dulles redesign

The president personally reviewed three-dimensional models of competing designs in the White House, requesting multiple revisions to elements including terminal transport systems, parking locations and baggage handling. Sources familiar with the process told CBS News that Trump rejected proposals from firms including Ferrovial and Jacobs, favouring a plan that maintains existing runways and works within current operational constraints.

Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Dulles, privately criticising its "two miles away" parking and describing the 1962-era mobile lounges as "crazy". The president preferred designs that preserved the airport's distinctive sloped-roof architecture while introducing an open foyer and modern ticket kiosks, according to one source involved in the selection process.

Key features of the $22.5 billion overhaul

The approved plan includes:

  • A new U-shaped underground aerotrain system replacing the mobile lounges, which have served the airport since 1962
  • Expanded moving sidewalks connecting all concourses, including the United Airlines-dominated D concourse
  • Four new linear concourses replacing the existing A, B, C and D gates, including the 1985-built temporary structures
  • Relocated parking facilities closer to the main terminal for improved passenger convenience
  • Preservation of the Eero Saarinen-designed main terminal with interior refurbishment

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will finance the project through tax-free bonds, with United Airlines—Dulles' primary carrier—contracted to manage the construction and repay costs through operational revenues. The existing runways will remain unchanged, a factor that reportedly influenced Trump's final selection.

What happens next for Dulles travellers

The president is expected to make a formal announcement from the Oval Office, though the timeline remains subject to change. Separate requests for proposals will be issued for public-private partnerships to develop landside elements including a new convention centre and parking facilities.

The most immediate change for frequent flyers will be the elimination of the mobile lounges, which one traveller described as a "mobile torture chamber". The new aerotrain system will provide direct connections to all terminals, addressing long-standing complaints about the airport's efficiency and passenger experience.