Aa777jr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1211 times:
Why does DC have DCA and IAD airports? Is DC following the pattern of NYC with LGA and JFK...LGA is more a regional airport and JFK gets most the heavy international traffic. I've flown into both DC airports, recentally IAD. Seemed like a big airport heavy for traffic. Any comments?
ETStar From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 2103 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1178 times:
DC does not really have 3 airports, as DCA is in DC, IAD is in Virginia and BWI is in Maryland. There is no room for DCA expansion (and it was at full capacity once), and IAD is not ideally located and handles larger aircraft with overseas service, and BWI really is far from Washington DC, serving Baltimore.
Go3Team From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3266 posts, RR: 22 Reply 2, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1164 times:
"DC does not really have 3 airports, as DCA is in DC, IAD is in Virginia and BWI is in Maryland. There is no room for DCA expansion (and it was at full capacity once), and IAD is not ideally located and handles larger aircraft with overseas service, and BWI really is far from Washington DC, serving Baltimore."
DCA is in Virginia, albeit not far from the DC border. BWI is really not all that far from DC. I would still consider it inside the DC metro area.
Clipper002 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 671 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1153 times:
That's why it's called Baltimore/Washington Airport or BWI
CV990A From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1118 times:
I thought it was BWI because the folks in DC realized early on in IAD's life that it was more popular than IAD and threw a fit to get their name on it so as to provide an alternative to the unpopular Dulles... (or something like that)
Radelow From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 426 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
5 minute busride from terminal to train statiuon
25 minute trainride from train station to DC train station
FutureFO From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3095 posts, RR: 24 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1071 times:
IAD/DCA/BWI are all co-terminals when it comes to booking flights. Even tho usually BWI are generally cheaper. DCA has a mailing address of Washington, D.C. but is actually in Crystal City, Va.
Contrails From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 1818 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1013 times:
Actually, the only airport in DC is Bolling AFB (not counting a few heliports). All the other airports in the region are either in VA or MD.
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 970 times:
Heh, well sort of. DCA is an annex of Washington. Technically, yes it is in Arlington.
You'll find the Pentagon is also an annex of Washington. Pentagon addresses are Washington, DC despite also being located in Arlington.
Other places where this is true are DEN, ORD. Both are on land annexed by their namesake cities and therefore technically in the city.
Back to the original question. DC is a huge metro area, and can support all three airports, just like New York can support all of its airports.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 2103 posts, 
From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3095 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
