Washington's fourth airport gets closer to takeoff
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Washington Manassas Airport is ready to take off next year. Rendering: Courtesy of Avports
Washington's next commercial airport is one step closer to takeoff.
Why it matters: Manassas Airport is poised to become the region's fourth — and smallest — commercial airport, expanding flight options for locals and potentially creating more room for low-cost carriers.
- Airport officials are also selling convenience, including a projected 7- to 12-minute trip from curb to gate.
Driving the news: The FAA granted the airport an operating certificate on Monday, clearing the way toward launching commercial passenger flights.
- It's the first general aviation airport in Virginia to receive such a certificate in more than 50 years, according to the FAA.
State of play: The City of Manassas and airport operator Avports have spent more than three years on a $125 million transformation of the two-runway airport, long used primarily for private aviation and flight training.
- Meanwhile, the FAA invested more than $46 million at the airport to support infrastructure improvements, including a runway revamp and future construction on a new control tower.
The intrigue: It even adopted a new name last spring — Washington Manassas Airport (HEF) — to boost its visibility among Washington-bound travelers and stake its claim as a regional alternative.
What's next: The biggest question is which airlines will actually fly there.
- No commercial airline partners have been announced yet, though officials have emphasized low-cost carriers from the start.
- That pitch could become more attractive as rising costs at Dulles put pressure on budget airlines. Southwest and Avelo Airlines have both recently exited the airport.
- Manassas will also break ground on a new passenger terminal and air traffic control tower. The terminal is expected to open in fall 2027, with commercial service following soon after. The tower is slated for 2029.
Zoom out: Washington is in the midst of an airport building boom, with billions flowing into the region's three major airports just as Manassas prepares to join them.
- Dulles is embarking on a multibillion-dollar transformation that includes new concourses, an expanded AeroTrain system and eventually retiring its infamous mobile lounges.
- Reagan National has its own $2.4 billion capital program planned, including passenger upgrades and the eventual replacement of Terminal 1's main concourse.
- And BWI earlier this year unveiled a $520 million terminal improvement project — the largest in its history — while undertaking a major rehabilitation of its longest commercial runway.
Zoom in: Meanwhile, HEF planners are touting its contributions. It's projected to contribute $517 million to the regional economy, support over 2,300 jobs and provide commercial flight access for up to 3 million passengers a year.