What United Is Building at IAD

A 435,000 sq ft midfield concourse built by MWAA and occupied entirely by United: 14 gates sized for both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, 46,000 sq ft of concessions, and a direct AeroTrain connection. MWAA floated September as a possible opening month in mid-July but has set no date. The published cost has drifted — United's 2024 announcement said 'more than $500 million'; 2026 grant coverage puts phase 1 near $900M — so we don't print a single number.

United's new flagship Dulles club: ~40,000 sq ft above the AeroTrain escalators, seating around 650 — a ~70% jump in United Club space at IAD. The design riffs on L'Enfant's DC street grid ('there's no cul-de-sacs, there's no dead ends,' per United's club chief). Buffet and bar, no showers. Opens with the concourse.

The three existing C/D clubs stay open after Concourse E debuts, and United says they'll 'evolve' with renovations as the wider Dulles redevelopment progresses. No scope, budget, or timeline published — announced in the loosest sense.

Upgraded from rumor on July 29, 2026: the officially unveiled Dulles master plan includes 'more United Club space and plans for one of the largest United Polaris lounges in the world.' No size, date, or location yet — and note the evolution: Kirby's April tease ('It'll be a big club') was a United Club; the official language is Polaris. Inside a decade-long program, 'plans for' is a direction, not a construction schedule.

Officially unveiled July 29, 2026: a more-than-$20B transformation — up from the $7B previously allocated — adding or renovating some 5 million sq ft over the next decade. Replaces the 1980s C/D concourses, expands the AeroTrain and retires the mobile lounges, adds a central walking tunnel from the Saarinen terminal, a new customs facility, more gates (Concourse E's next phase reportedly starts ~2028), and more lounge space. MWAA finances much of it through municipal bonds; phases and dates beyond Concourse E are not yet scheduled.