After more than a half-century in service, Dulles International Airport’s distinctive mobile lounges — once slated for retirement — are getting a makeover that solidifies their presence for the long term.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s board of directors gave final approval Wednesday forThe cost raised eyebrows among some board members, who questioned why the authority was spending so much to upgrade vehicles that seem more a part of the airport’s past than future. But Dulles officials say they think the vehicles will remain a vital part of airport operations for years — and possibly decades.
Dulles’s fleet consists of 19 mobile lounges and 30 Plane Mates. Officials said work on the first two vehicles will serve as a guide, which could lower the cost of upgrading the rest of the fleet. MWAA officials expected years ago that the Aerotrain would eliminate the need for mobile lounges. Although the first phase opened years ago, the second phase of the train system has yet to be built. The airport is undergoing a process to update its master plan, which could include future expansion of the Aerotrain system to all concourses.
Bauserman said MWAA officials have discussed phasing out the mobile lounges for decades, only to conclude that the vehicles still play an important role in the airport’s ecosystem. The mobile lounges transport millions of people each year, including in 2021, whenfrom Afghanistan were taken from their flights to customs facilities on the Dulles campus.
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