The Airchive-Washington D.C. Dulles Planespotting

	Dulles International Airport Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport has long been a very, very quiet facility, even with its modern Eero Saarinen design. After opening in 1962, it was praised for it’s futuristic design but criticized for it’s 25 mile distance from Washington way out in Dulles, Virginia. Like Laguardia, Washington's close-in airport is slot limited and has short runways. Dulles was built to accomodate all long-haul international and domestic traffic. For years, it was a slumbering giant but in recent years low cost airlines such as Jet Blue, Ted, Air Tran, and the expired IAD based Independence Air have made this much like JFK, a major low cost hub and very busy. Southwest Airlines announced that it would begin service in 2006, destinations are TBA. n the late 90s anticipating this demand, the terminal length was nearly doubled with a nearly seemless stretch on both sides. Dulles was the site of the 1975, 77, and 79 kitsch classics "Airport".

	The central terminal at one time had departures via mobile lounges directly to waiting aircraft. Now, there are 2 large midfield terminals as well as limited "T Gates" airside.
	Dulles Interiors The interior of the airside terminal is surprisingly modern and retro at the same time. The roominess of this terminal contrasts sharply with the claustrophobic congestion of the “temporary” midfield terminals C/D, particularly United’s operation. However, with the arrival of Ted, AirTran, Jet Blue and Independence Air, long security checkpoints have over taken its former serenity.

	Old Departure Screen This icon of Dulles has been replaced by flat screen panels, and finally torn down.
	Dulles aerial
	Concourse B This is the most recent midfield terminal. All airlines with the exception of American, United, UA Express, and Independence have operations here. This spacious, well apointed concourse is also home to all international airlines servicing IAD. It is connected to the main terminal and C/D by the loathed mobile lounges. Concourse A is adjacent connected via a mobile bridge.
	Virgin A340-300 and Delta MD-80 Virgin operates a twice daily service to London using 747-400s and A-340s. The jets are seen at Midfield Terminal B.
	Air France Boeing 777-200 Air France operates a double daily service from Dulles to Charles De Gualle in Paris.
	Independence Air A Boarding Lounges Newly formed Independence Air (an outgrowth of United Express carrier, ACA) and United Express share the A Gates at IAD. The A Gates are used specifically for regional operations with RJs and turboprops. Independence put special attention into these striking lounges at their Dulles hub. Independence announced it would shutdown on January 7, 2006 when it couldn't find a buyer. The challenging business model along with other prevailing factors in the industry led to the shutdown of this carrier which from a passenger's perspective was very, very good.


	A Gates Boarding These unfinished looking gates, common to all A Gates RJ airlines, a sharp contrast to the boarding lounges.
	Independence Air - August 2004 Independence transformed itself from Atlantic Coast, a United Express feeder, into an innovative low cost carrier in June, 2004. The airline is unique on many fronts. Currently, it is the only LCC flying RJs, though Airbus A319s are on order to service West Coast and Florida cities. All flights are centered around Washington Dulles, giving DC its first homebased LCC. I have flown Independence numerous times, and apart from rather chaotic ground operations, have found it to be a very economical pleasant way to fly. Adding on high frequency flights and you have an airline poised for success. The big question hovering around the airline is "can an LCC make money flying RJs?" Jet Blue apparently thinks so as it has ordered RJs. An amusing part of the service is the celebrity in-flight announcements (much like an New York taxi) from stars such as Dennis Miller and Mary Matlin and James Carvelle. Independence announced it would shutdown on January 7, 2006 when it couldn't find a buyer. The challenging business model along with other prevailing factors in the industry led to the shutdown of this carrier which from a passenger's perspective was very, very good.


	Independence Air - January 2006 These images were taken at Dulles and the FLYi Dulles headquarters the week after the January 7, 2006 shutdown


	United Express ACA formerly operated the United Express hub at Dulles. ACA has now reformed as LCC Independence Air. Much of the United Express hub is located on the A Concourse, requiring mobile lounge transit to connecting flights on C/D Concourse.
	Ethiopian 767-300 As Dulles is the District's international airport, the tails of foreign aircraft are common. Ethiopian has just introduced a new livery to replace this classic one.
	United Boeing 747-400 These jumbos are used for services to Frankfurt and London from IAD.
	Ted Airbus A-320 Ted is United's entry into the low cost arena. The airline serves lower cost leisure markets with a focus on Florida, Las Vegas, and California from its focus cities in Denver. Though it doesn't offer some of the frills of Jet Blue, Song, or Frontier such as live TV, it has achieved early good results financially and operationally. Being a part of the UA network definately still has its advantages. Ted replaced United Shuttle at its launch in early 2004.
	United 757-200 United is the dominant carrier at Dulles. UA operates from mid-field terminal C/D. These terminals were built as temporary structures in the mid 1980s but continue to live past their twentieth year.
	C/D Concourse American and United, two of the largest carriers at IAD, operate from these outmoded midfield gates. Frankly, they are an embarrasment and look like dingy pre-fab buildings long past their time. Coupling this with the long rides from the main terminal on the mobile lounges, long walks with few moving sidewalks, and poor retail, and you have a pretty lame concourse for a world class airport such as Dulles.

	Virgin 747-400 Virgin operates two daily non-stops "capital to capital" between Heathrow and Washington Dulles using 747-400s and A340-600s. In November 2003, a Virgin Captain was arrested on his way to fly an outbound flight to LHR while under the influence resulting in a cancelled flight.
	UA CRJ-200 United's express affiliate Atlantic Coast Airlines, has designed its hub at Dulles around the mainline operations of United. Some RJ flights depart near the main landside terminal. Most ACA flights have now shifted to the newly formed Independence Air.
	Mobile Lounge An unusual feature of Dulles is the use of mobile lounges to take passengers from the landside terminal to the mid-field terminals. Before the midfield terminals were built, these lumbering behemoths transported pax directly from the terminal to the aircraft and vice versa, though this is no longer the case. An underground moving sidewak tunnel has replaced these relics between the main terminal and concourses A & B. They remain in operation to the more distant C/D terminals. I find these machines entertaining and great for ramp photography but obstacles to catching a flight when you're in a hurry.
	Mobile Lounge Interior It is a rare site to find these empty. Now, they are unbelievably crowded!
	KLM, SAS, and Air France
	SAS Airbus A-330
	United Airlines 1993 and 2004 Livery
	US Airways Express at Z-Gates The Z gates are being redeveloped as the new location for regional operators such as US Airways Express.
	United Boeing 747-400 Flight Deck Shots Wide Shots of the Flight Deck and closeup shots of the throttle stand and PFD/ND monitors are included here. United operates the 747-400 on limited domestic service including LAX to IAD where these shots were taken.

	United Boeing 747-400 Cabin Shots The Upper Deck Business Class, First Class, and Economy are shown here. Boeing operates the 747-400 on limited domestic service including LAX to IAD where these shots were taken. United operates the 747-400 on limited domestic service including LAX to IAD where these shots were taken.