Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

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Baltimore, MD · BWI

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Recent News

Updated Mar 28, 2026
Ground stops at BWI, DCA, IAD due to chemical smell at Potomac TRACON

The FAA issued ground stops at BWI, Reagan National, and Dulles airports on Friday, March 27, 2026 after a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility in Warrenton, Va. impacted air traffic controllers. Ground stops lasted until approximately 8 p.m., with delays exceeding 90 minutes at some airports. This was the second such incident in two weeks.

The National Desk·Mar 28, 2026
230 flight delays and 30 cancellations on March 18 due to weather

Baltimore/Washington International Airport experienced 230 flight delays and 30 cancellations on March 18, 2026, stranding hundreds of passengers. Major routes to New York, Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago faced the brunt of disruptions. Aviation officials predicted ripple effects through March 19 as crews hit duty limits.

Nomad Lawyer·Mar 18, 2026
Southwest exits Dulles, strengthens BWI as East Coast anchor

Southwest Airlines announced on March 13, 2026 that it will end all service to Washington Dulles International Airport effective June 4, 2026, as part of network refinement efforts. BWI remains Southwest's largest East Coast base with up to 271 daily departures combined with Reagan National, solidifying its position as the airline's primary regional hub.

ProCapitas·Mar 13, 2026
New A/B Connector opens January 9, months ahead of schedule

Baltimore/Washington International Airport opened its new A/B Connector on January 9, 2026, months ahead of the originally planned summer 2026 opening. The nearly $500 million project is the largest capital project in BWI's history, featuring 142,000 square feet of new space, direct connection between concourses, expanded hold rooms, new food and retail spaces, and a state-of-the-art baggage handling system processing 3,400 bags per hour.

Wikipedia·Jan 27, 2026

Airport Profile

Governing EntityMaryland Aviation Administration
Entity TypeState Agency
Fiscal Year EndJune
Bond TypeGARB
Rate MethodologyHybrid Residual
AUA StatusActive
Agreement Period2019-09-01 – 2026-12-31
S&PA+
Moody'sA1
FitchA+

Key Financial Data (FY 2025)

CPE$11.57
Signatory Landing Fee$3.9200
Enplanements12,959,303
Total Operating Revenue$343.9M
Total Operating Expense$321.8M
Operating Income$22.1M
Total Debt$810.1M
Rate Covenant1.25x
Unrestricted Cash
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)16,494,154

Enplaned Passengers (FAA CATS)

13.0M-4.0%
Route data →

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$11.57+9.5%

Revenue

$343.9M+10.8%

Expense

$321.8M+4.2%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyHybrid Residual
Ratesetting Typeagreement
Cost Center StructureAirfield, Terminal, Ground Side, Administrative

Settlement & True-Up

Not available

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeStrong/Traditional

Not available

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Airfield cost center net of non-airline revenues divided by estimated landed weight

Terminal Rental Rate

Rate DivisorRentable Square Feet

Terminal cost center allocated by rentable square footage

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Additional Bonds Test

Department must provide Trustee with one of the following: (a)(i) if for Completion or Extraordinary Maintenance: Airport Consultant report that estimated Net Pledged Revenues for each of three full Bond Years following date proceeds fully applied is projected to be not less than Debt Service Requirements of all outstanding Bonds and Other Obligations as of last day of each such Bond Year, and Engineer's report that proceeds do not exceed amount necessary for intended purpose; or (a)(ii) for Completion only: Certificate that aggregate principal amount not greater than 10% of Bonds issued to finance the project; (b) if for Refunding: Certificate that Maximum Annual Debt Service assuming Additional Bonds issued and refunded obligations no longer outstanding will not be increased; or (c) Certificate that (i) Net Pledged Revenues received in most recent Bond Year was not less than sum of 125% of Maximum Annual Debt Service taking into account Additional Bonds plus 100% of Debt Service Requirements of Other Obligations; or (ii) based on Airport Consultant report, during each of three Bond Years after delivery of Additional Bonds, estimated Net Pledged Revenues projected to be not less than sum of 125% of Debt Service Requirements taking into account Additional Bonds plus 100% of Debt Service Requirements of Other Obligations. For Programs (draw-down bonds over multiple years): compliance may be determined at time of issuance of any Series provided period over which Additional Bonds issued does not exceed three years and aggregate principal amount set forth in Certificate or Airport Consultant report.

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.25x

Net Pledged Revenues in each Bond Year must be at least (i) 125% of Debt Service Requirements of all outstanding Bonds for such Bond Year; and (ii) 100% of Debt Service Requirements of all outstanding Other Obligations for such Bond Year. Net Pledged Revenues = Pledged Revenues minus Operating Expenses. While secured by gross revenue pledge, Rate Covenant is structured on net revenues basis.

Flow of Funds

Gross revenue pledge of Pledged Revenues. All Pledged Revenues deposited to Pledged Revenue Fund, then applied monthly in priority order: (1) Operating Expenses (paid from Transportation Trust Fund after monthly transfer from Pledged Revenue Fund), (2) Bond Fund (monthly deposits of 1/12 of annual debt service for upcoming payment dates), (3) Debt Service Reserve Fund (monthly deposits to cure any deficiency within 12 months), (4) Subordinate Debt Fund (if any subordinate obligations exist), (5) Redemption Fund (amounts designated for optional redemption). If Pledged Revenues insufficient, amounts in Transportation Trust Fund may (at Department's discretion) be available subject to General Assembly appropriation, but Transportation Trust Fund is NOT pledged to Bonds.

1.Operating Expenses — Transfer from Pledged Revenue Fund to Transportation Trust Fund to cover Operating Expenses allocated to BWI Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport operations
2.Bond Fund — Monthly deposits of 1/12 of annual debt service requirements for principal and interest payments due on upcoming Interest Payment Dates
3.Debt Service Reserve Fund — Monthly deposits to cure any deficiency in DSRF requirement within 12 months
4.Subordinate Debt Fund — If any subordinate obligations exist, deposits as required
5.Redemption Fund — Amounts designated for optional redemption of Bonds

Source: FAA CATS Form 5100-127, DOT T-100 Market Data, Airport Official Statements · Hub classification: FAA CY 2024 Enplanement Data · Prepared by DWU Consulting