We know that the Washington, D.C., area has become more populous (and popular!) in recent years, but what does that mean for our airports?
There are three major airports in the DMV: Dulles, Reagan National, and Thurgood Marshall in Baltimore. And according to Inside Nova, all three are seeing steady increases in passenger counts.
The DMV is currently seeing around four million more passengers moving through the area this year than last year:
“Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport saw 2,083,592 passengers coming and going through its terminals in April, up 1.3 percent from a year before, while Washington Dulles International Airport reported 1,919,416 passengers, up 1.8 percent.”
Dominant airlines like United Airlines at Dulles Airport and American Airlines at Ronald Reagan Airport have reported carrying the largest percentage of passengers.
Courtesy of flyreagan.com
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So, what does all this mean in terms of people who live in the D.C. area?
Well, first, you might want to start getting to the airport earlier before your flight -- even at DCA (which is much smaller than the other two). There will be longer lines at check-in, at security, and (probably!) even the Starbucks line. You’ll also want to make sure that you have everything out and ready (all your ticket information, your ID, and anything else you'll need to get through security). Make sure you pay attention to where your gate is and have a better, more general sense of awareness.
Though it is wonderful that more people are attracted to our area, whether that be for business or pleasure purposes, more passengers mean busier airports -- plain and simple.
What do you think? Have you noticed the increase in foot-traffic and wait times at the DMV airports? Which airport do you feel us the busiest? Leave a comment below to weigh in!
