Transportation Secretary Exploring ‘Revitalization’ of Washington Dulles

The federal government is soliciting plans for a sweeping reconstruction of the airport.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 05:48 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Mobile lounges at Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Lokyo Multimedia JP)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is turning to the private sector for ideas on how to rework Washington Dulles International Airport.

The federal government released a request for information late Tuesday, soliciting plans for the reconstruction of Dulles’ terminals and concourses. The document is aimed at “the best and brightest developers, architects, and engineers,” the Transportation Department said, with the end goal of assembling a public-private partnership to tackle the renovation work.

“Once known for its iconic aerofoil-inspired main terminal designed by Eero Saarinen, the airport is now better known for its inefficient system of people movers that deliver passengers as much as a half mile or more away from their gates, its infamous moon-rover-like ‘mobile lounges,’ jet fuel smell in the concourses, and a paltry number of gates at the main terminal,” the RFI states. “In short, Washington Dulles International Airport is no longer an airport suitable and grand enough for the capital of the United States of America.”

Respondents are asked to submit design and construction concepts, as well as potential financing plans.

The Transportation Department said it will answer questions about the request submitted up to 20 days after its publication.

The RFI came the same day President Donald Trump slammed the 62-year-old airport as “terrible” and outdated and vowed to improve it.

In a statement, Duffy credited Trump with reducing crime and homelessness in Washington and cleaning up Union Station. That same effort should now be extended to Dulles, the secretary argued.

“Tourists, world leaders, and CEOs from around the world should not be forced to travel through an inefficient airport when they visit D.C.,” Duffy said. “IAD needs a complete refresh to assume its proper role as the premier international gateway into the capital of the greatest country in the world. We’re engaging the private sector to explore how we can do this cost effectively and at the speed of Trump.”

Dulles has used bus-like mobile lounges to connect passengers to their flights since the airport’s opening in 1962. While once considered innovative, they are now seen as outdated, especially since the opening of the underground AeroTrain system in 2010. Still, the airport continues to rely on mobile lounges to transport international arrivals and connect some terminals.

The president’s nominee for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) board, Trent Morse, has vowed to phase out the vehicles.

Last month, an accident involving a mobile lounge at Concourse D injured 18 people. Duffy pointed to the incident Tuesday to argue that Dulles urgently needs to be redesigned.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

ITA Adds First-Ever Connection Between Italy and U.S. City

Service will start in May 2026.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 02:41 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An ITA Airways A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | SimoneAmi)

Starting next summer, Italy’s ITA Airways will become the first carrier ever to connect Houston and Rome.

Flights will start on May 1, 2026, the airline announced Tuesday. From May 1 to 31, ITA will operate three weekly flights, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, before switching to five weekly flights between June 1 and Oct. 24. The five-times weekly service will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The route will operate with an Airbus A330-900neo.

ITA connects Rome to 16 other airports in Italy, allowing travelers from the Houston area to explore more of the country beyond the capital once the service is up and running, the carrier said.

Houston will become ITA’s ninth destination in North America. Airline officials have said they consider the U.S. to be ITA’s main international market, and more routes to the U.S. are expected to be added as the carrier integrates into parent company Lufthansa Group and joins the Star Alliance in 2026.

Zach Vasile

Trump Vows to Rebuild ‘Terrible’ Dulles Airport

President and Transportation Secretary signal upcoming bid process for major improvements.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 01:03 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A United Boeing 787 at Washington Dulles. (Photo: Shutterstock | Andrew Mauro)

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration plans to “rebuild” Washington Dulles International Airport, describing the 62-year-old facility as “terrible” and pointing to recent incidents involving its mobile lounges as evidence that major upgrades are needed.

Trump made the remarks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, where he criticized the airport’s layout.

“It was incorrectly designed with a good building. Actually, it’s got a beautiful terminal… one of the greatest architects in the world at the time. And so they have a great building and a bad airport, but we’re gonna turn that around.”

Dulles’ main terminal, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, opened in 1962 and remains one of the most recognizable pieces of mid-century airport architecture. Saarinen’s structure was intended to support a modern passenger experience built around the airport’s distinctive mobile lounge system.

The mobile lounges — developed by the Budd Company and introduced when Dulles opened — were designed to transport passengers directly between the terminal and aircraft parked on midfield ramps. At the time, they were viewed as a way to reduce long walking distances and avoid the need for multiple concourses.

Although Dulles later added an underground train system and traditional concourses, a fleet of mobile lounges and “plane mates” remains in use for international flights and transport between terminals.

The president said his administration has a plan to overhaul the airport’s design and infrastructure. “We’re gonna make Dulles Airport serving Washington and Virginia, Maryland, etcetera… into something really spectacular,” Trump said.

Dulles is located roughly 30 miles from downtown Washington, D.C.

Mobile Lounge Criticism

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also referenced a recent crash involving Dulles’ mobile lounges that injured 18 people and said the Department of Transportation plans to begin soliciting bids for related improvements.

“We had a crash recently,” Duffy said. “We’re gonna announce later today the request for bids on this. But again, it’s not a great airport, which we can make great in this administration.”

A Plane Mate attaches to a Boeing 787 at Dulles Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)

Trump reiterated that Dulles’ modernization will be a priority. “It was a badly designed airport,” he said. “We’re gonna make it into as good as there is in the country.”

Trump’s pick for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) board, Trent Morse, has also vowed to phase out the mobile lounge during a recent Senate hearing. MWAA operates both Reagan and Dulles airports.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Southwest Signs Interline Deal With Condor

Customers are now able to book connecting flights through six U.S. gateways.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 12:13 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Condor Airlines Airbus A330-900 arriving at the gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Southwest is partnering with German airline Condor as it looks to increase connectivity for passengers traveling to and visiting from Europe.

Customers are now able to book connecting Southwest-Condor flights on a single ticket through six U.S. gateways: Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle. Flights covered by the new interline agreement start Jan. 19, 2026.

“Adding Condor to our portfolio of partners brings transatlantic journeys between dozens of airports in the U.S. and exciting and aspirational places Condor serves,” Southwest COO Andrew Watterson said in a statement.

Condor offers connections to nearly 70 destinations around the world from Frankfurt, its largest hub. Southwest leaders said the partnership will help U.S. travelers reach popular destinations like Paris, Rome, and Prague, as well as Barcelona, Budapest, and Venice in the summer of 2026.

A Southwest 737 MAX 8 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Condor is Southwest’s fifth international partner, behind Icelandair, China Airlines, EVA Air, and Philippine Airlines.

Zach Vasile

Hi Fly Lands First A330 in Antarctica

The charter airline operates flights between South Africa and Wolf’s Fang Runway for tour company White Desert Antarctica.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 12:10 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Hi Fly's A330 in Antarctica. (Photo: Hi Fly)

Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly landed the first Airbus A330 in Antarctica on Monday as it continues its seasonal service to the world’s most isolated continent.

The aircraft, registered as 9H-HFI, departed from Cape Town, South Africa, and landed at Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica at 11:59 p.m. local time. Hi Fly Vice Chairman Carlos Mirpuri served as captain for the flight, with CEO Antonios Efthymiou also on board to mark the occasion.

Hi Fly operates flights between South Africa and Antarctica for tour company White Desert Antarctica between November and February. For the past four seasons, the airline has flown the route using an A340, but twin-engine operations at Wolf’s Fang are now possible due to the addition of new ground support equipment.

“Landing in Antarctica is never routine, every flight demands careful planning, exacting precision, and respect for the environment,” Mirpuri said in a statement. “Introducing the A330 to this remote runway highlights our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and the ongoing evolution of polar aviation.”

Wolf’s Fang Runway is a blue ice runway and the first runway built in Antarctica that supports large passenger airplanes.

Hi Fly landed the first A340 on the continent in 2021.

Zach Vasile

Sun Country to Open New Crew Base

The Minneapolis-based carrier will establish the base to support cargo and future network growth.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 10:25 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Prime Air 737 operated by Sun Country (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

Sun Country said Tuesday it will establish a new operational base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The base is scheduled to open on Jan. 31, 2026.

According to the airline, the new base will support Sun Country’s expanding cargo operation, particularly its Amazon Air flying, and will also provide infrastructure for future growth in its scheduled and charter businesses.

The company said the new base will allow flight crews to begin and end assignments in Cincinnati and will improve overall reliability for its cargo network.

“Growing our footprint beyond Minneapolis-St. Paul has long been a goal for Sun Country, and we are excited to mark this major milestone,” said Jude Bricker, the carrier’s president and chief executive officer, in a news release. “Amazon and our cargo operation is a critical segment of our differentiated business model and enables our scheduled service seasonal flexibility and growth.”

Cincinnati is one of the nation’s busiest cargo airports, driven largely by Amazon’s hub and DHL Express operations. Sun Country said its cargo activity at the airport has increased, prompting the decision to base crews and aircraft locally.

The airline added that it is currently hiring pilots to staff the new base and is evaluating additional locations as it expands both its cargo and passenger operations. No details were provided about potential future routes from Cincinnati.

A Sun Country Boeing 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

Sun Country operates a hybrid model that includes scheduled service, charter flights, and dedicated cargo operations. The airline’s passenger network is centered on its Minneapolis–St. Paul base, while its partnership with Amazon continues to anchor its cargo growth.

Bricker announced the new Cincinnati base during Sun Country’s third-quarter earnings call in October. The airline has struggled to fill captain seats, which has been a “limiting factor” in its long-range planning, he said.

But Bricker is hopeful this new base – along with the roll-out of a Preferential Bidding System (PBS) – will help ease these constraints.

“Both of those things, I think, will increase demand for captain upgrades,” he said during the call. “But you’re right, it still is an issue here at Sun Country and captain upgrades are the limiting factors as we do long-range planning into ’26 and ’27.”

Sun Country also said it is “looking at additional base locations in support of its Amazon and scheduled service growth.”

Ryan Ewing

Southwest Cuts Two Routes

Network shake-up includes ending a transcontinental service.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 10:03 AM ET

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Zach Vasile

A Southwest Airlines 737-700 pushing back in Pittsburgh. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Southwest is planning to end two routes as part of its latest schedule extension. The Dallas-based airline extended its schedule through September 2026 last week.

The carrier will suspend its daily service between Baltimore and Ontario, California. Additionally, weekend flights between Burbank, California, and St. Louis will be discontinued.

Southwest’s Baltimore-to-Ontario route will operate through Aug. 3. Burbank-to-St. Louis is scheduled through Aug. 2, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.

A Southwest spokesperson also confirmed the route cuts, but noted that the carrier’s total trips are up slightly year-over-year compared to August 2025.

Last week, the airline added a handful of new routes from California, including new service connecting Ontario and Burbank with Honolulu.

Ryan Ewing

Alaska, Hawaiian Offer Points for SAF Donations

The promotion runs through the end of the year.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 04:59 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Ryken Papy)

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are offering loyalty members points in exchange for donations toward sustainable aviation fuel, also known as SAF.

Through the end of the year, Atmos Rewards members can earn 500 status points for every $100 contribution toward SAF, up to a maximum of 5,000 status points. Atmos is the joint loyalty program for Alaska and Hawaiian, which was absorbed into Alaska as part of a 2024 merger.

Alaska’s former Mileage Plan offered customers the ability to donate money for SAF in exchange for points through a collaboration with climate technology company Chooose.

SAF is a renewable alternative to conventional jet fuel made from nonpetroleum feedstocks. Its use can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80%.

Because sustainable fuel is still too scarce and expensive to totally replace existing jet fuels, several commercial airlines, as well as private aviation companies, solicit donations from customers with the goal of increasing their supplies and gradually integrating SAF into their operations.

Alaska has said it plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Zach Vasile

Air Canada Adds New A321XLR Route

The aircraft will be used for a brief window next fall.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 01:07 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada A321XLR rendering (Photo: Air Canada)

Air Canada will use the Airbus A321XLR to connect Halifax and London Heathrow next year, temporarily replacing the Boeing 737 MAX.

Aeroroutes reported Saturday that the A321XLR will operate the transatlantic route between Sept. 30 and Oct. 24, 2026. Air Canada did not announce the change, but the airline’s website shows the A321XLR will be used for service between Halifax and London during that window.

The carrier expects to take delivery of its first A321XLR in early 2026. The first new Air Canada route using the extended-range aircraft will be from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, starting in June next year.

The A321XLR will also support existing routes between Montreal and Dublin, Toulouse, France, and Edinburgh, Scotland, in the summer of 2026.

Air Canada leaders have said they are looking at adding the aircraft to longer domestic routes to give passengers access to more amenities. They are also considering new routes that would make sense for the A321XLR’s range and capacity.

Zach Vasile

TSA Sets $45 Fee for Non-REAL ID Travelers

Passengers without compliant identification will use the agency’s Confirm ID process beginning in February.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 11:03 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A TSA checkpoint. (Photo: Shutterstock | David Tran Photo)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to implement a $45 fee early next year for travelers who arrive at the airport without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable identification.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID may opt to pay the fee and verify their identity through TSA’s alternative identity verification system, known as Confirm ID.

Higher Fee

Senior TSA officials said the higher fee reflects updated technology, operational, and administrative costs tied to operating the verification process. The agency noted that the original Federal Register notice, published on Nov. 20, outlined a proposed $18 fee, but officials said subsequent analysis showed that the actual expenses associated with the Confirm ID system were greater than initially projected.

Around 94% of passengers currently present an acceptable ID at checkpoints, TSA said. Agency officials stressed that REAL ID compliance remains a central part of its security posture.

“Acceptable forms of IDs such as REAL IDs or passports deter bad actors and illegal aliens from traveling, which is a critical component of our mission to keep air travel secure,” one senior official shared.

Travelers who pay the fee in advance will receive a receipt to present to travel document checkers at the start of screening. Those who arrive without acceptable ID and have not paid ahead of time will be escorted out of the line to complete the Confirm ID process before returning to the checkpoint.

The identity verification process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes but can stretch to 30 minutes or longer depending on the information reviewed, checkpoint conditions, and additional screening measures. If TSA cannot confirm a traveler’s identity, they may be denied access to the checkpoint, consistent with current procedures.

The $45 fee is nonrefundable, and paying it does not guarantee successful verification.

Confirm ID relies on a combination of passport database checks and knowledge-based verification questions. Digital credentials stored in Apple or Google wallets, including mobile driver’s licenses and digital passports, are also accepted forms of identification.

The $45 fee covers a 10-day period beginning on the traveler’s first date of travel to accommodate typical round-trip itineraries. Children under 18 remain exempt from ID requirements at screening and will not be subject to the fee.

TSA officials said the Feb. 1 start date allows time to prepare travelers during the busy holiday season and gives states and carriers time to help increase awareness. The agency plans to use airport signage, a dedicated landing page, and outreach through airlines and industry trade groups.

Ryan Ewing