The Fairfax Girl Team 
Dulles Airport is already a local favorite for its incredible array of flights, and now the airport has something new. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority + United Airlines have opened Concourse E, a new facility with 14 additional gates, passenger amenities, and more. The new concourse features several local businesses in addition to an upgraded United Club. The first flight from the new concourse took off on Tuesday, November 10th, and we were there to see it. Read on for more about the new Concourse E at Dulles Airport, and the local touches that make it special.
Concourse E
Concourse E adds 14 new United Airlines gates, all designed with enough flexibility to accommodate both domestic + international flights. The gates can also be configured to serve either one larger wide-body aircraft or two smaller narrow-body planes.
Travelers will find more spacious seating areas, updated restrooms, plenty of natural light, a pet relief area, + direct access to the airport’s AeroTrain system. That connection means passengers can travel directly between the Main Terminal + Concourse E without relying on the airport’s mobile lounge shuttle system.
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The concourse also includes a nearly 40,000-square-foot United Club, making it one of the largest lounges in the airline’s network.
There are also plenty of new food + drink options inside the concourse, including a mix of national brands and Northern Virginia favorites. Concessions include Aventino, Bonchon, Dos Toros Taqueria, Ellie Bird, Good Company Doughnuts & Café, Honor Brewing, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, Rusty Taco, + Starbucks.
A spokesperson for Honor Brewing shared the following statement: “We’re incredibly excited to be part of the new Concourse E at Dulles International Airport. As a local, veteran-owned Virginia brewery, this is a unique opportunity to introduce travelers from around the world to our beer and the story behind Honor Brewing. Giving back to our veterans and our community has always been at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to share that mission with a much broader audience. This is an exciting milestone for our business, and we look forward to the opportunities it will bring as we continue to grow.”
“This is a new and exciting partnership for us developed with SSP America,” says Chef Yuan Tang, owner and culinary director of Ellie Bird. “We’re bringing our beloved menu that features family-friendly New American cuisine with Asian influence to a wider audience. We also love a good bird pun around here—Ellie Bird taking flight at the new concourse is just too good.”
Travel Tech will also have a location in the concourse, along with Gameway, an immersive video gaming lounge where travelers can spend some time between flights.
What’s Next
The first flight to depart out of Concourse E was UA1252. Concourse E is only the first piece of a much bigger redevelopment plan known as the Dulles Global Gateway. Concourse E is also the first of four planned construction phases tied to a more than $20 billion modernization effort at Dulles.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority + United Airlines plan to complete three additional phases of Concourse E while also expanding the AeroTrain system and eventually replacing Dulles’ decades-old Concourses C + D.
The long-term plan would also allow the airport to retire its familiar mobile lounges, which have transported travelers between terminals + aircraft for decades.
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“The Airports Authority is making strategic investments today to transform Dulles International into the National Capital Region’s ‘airport of the future,’” said Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter. “Opening Concourse E is the first step in expanding the airport’s capacity and enhancing the passenger experience, building momentum for the broader modernization efforts that will shape Dulles and serve the traveling public for generations to come.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby similarly called Dulles an important part of the airline’s global growth strategy, saying the new concourse is only the beginning of the airport’s planned transformation. “Washington Dulles is a critical part of United’s global network and growth strategy as it connects our nation’s capital to the world,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. “Concourse E delivers the kind of elevated experience our travelers and employees deserve today, and it’s only the beginning as we work with the Airports Authority and the U.S. Department of Transportation to transform Dulles into one of the greatest airports in the world.”
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