Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport Is About to Transform — Here’s What $800 Million Could Mean for Your Next Flight!
If you’ve ever found yourself navigating the quirky quirks of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, you might recall the oddball nickname for Terminal 1’s midcentury concourse—the “banjo.” Why a banjo? Well, its curving shape looks like the stringed instrument, a relic from 1970 that’s about to get a serious makeover. And for Southwest Airlines travelers—those darting across the sky with a certain no-frills charm—there’s a fresh reason to catch the excitement. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is gearing up to unveil a brand-new nine-gate concourse in Terminal 1, paired with a sleek processor building that promises to streamline check-ins and baggage claims. Slated for a 2031 debut with an $835 million price tag, this project isn’t just a facelift—it’s a reimagining of the traveler’s journey, blending respect for the historic 1941 terminal with modern convenience. Could this be the future of flying out of DCA? Let’s unpack what’s coming next. LEARN MORE
Southwest Airlines flyers have something to look forward to at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) soon.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates DCA, is planning a new nine-gate concourse for Terminal 1, as shown in environmental documents for the project released in July. The facility would replace the midcentury concourse and rotunda — known locally as “the banjo” for its shape like the instrument — that dates to 1970.
The concourse and a new “processor” building for check-in and baggage claim could open as soon as 2031, according to MWAA financial documents. The estimated cost was $835 million in 2025.
Southwest Airlines — the main user of Terminal 1 — would likely use the new concourse, as would Air Canada and Frontier Airlines.
“We look forward to the ultimate completion of the project,” a Southwest spokesperson said, adding that the airline is working with the airport authority on the project.
An MWAA spokesperson declined to comment further on the project.
The upgrade to DCA comes just five years after the airport completed the $1 billion Project Journey. That expansion included a new 14-gate concourse (the E Gates), which replaced the dreaded Gate 35X; it also included two new security checkpoints, allowing the National Hall main concourse to move inside security.
The airport authority is also pursuing a $22.5 billion redevelopment of another Washington, D.C.-area airport, Dulles International Airport (IAD). The IAD redevelopment is championed by the Trump administration and United Airlines.
The new DCA concourse project would completely reorganize how travelers use Terminal 1. To clarify, this is the older, original terminal at the airport, including the landmarked 1941 historic terminal, and not Terminal 2, which opened in 1997.
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Under the plan, travelers would no longer check in and drop their bags in a lobby far from the Metro and Terminal 2. Instead, they would use the new multilevel processor building on the existing taxi staging lot between terminals 1 and 2. They would descend from check-in to the existing south checkpoint in Terminal 2. From there, they would make a U-turn and walk back south through an enlarged corridor past the B gates (currently used by United), through the landmarked 1941 lobby (which is currently outside of security) and into the new concourse.
The expansion would “deliver a modern passenger convenience while respecting the terminal’s historic context,” the MWAA planning documents state. They estimate a walking distance of 2,700 feet from check-in to the farthest gate (about the length of 7 1/2 football fields).
The new space would even include 10,000 square feet for an as-yet-unnamed new airline lounge. Southwest executives have repeatedly teased plans to potentially invest in a lounge network.
PGAL, the architecture firm for the E gates at DCA and the under-construction Concourse E at IAD, will design the new concourse.
The banjo, as well as several other nonlandmarked additions to the historic 1941 terminal, would be demolished once the new concourse opens.
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