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Recent News

Updated Mar 14, 2026
Ground stop issued at Reagan National and three DC-area airports due to chemical odor

On March 13, 2026, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles, BWI, and Richmond airports halted all flights for over an hour due to a strong chemical smell from an overheated circuit board at the Potomac TRACON facility. Ground stops were issued around 6:30 PM and lifted by 8 PM, causing flight delays up to 3.5 hours at Reagan.

NBC News·Mar 13, 2026
Reagan National Concourse D evacuated after suspicious package found in break room

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's Concourse D was evacuated on March 12, 2026, after a suspicious package was discovered in a break room around 9 AM. Airport police established a safety perimeter and cleared passengers from the concourse, which handles American Airlines flights in Terminal 2.

Rolling Out·Mar 12, 2026
Reagan National and Dulles airports set 2025 passenger record with 53.9M travelers

More than 53.9 million passengers traveled through Reagan National and Dulles International airports in 2025, breaking the previous year's record for the two-airport system. The announcement was made on February 24, 2026, by airport leaders.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority·Feb 24, 2026

Airport Profile

Bond TypeSenior Lien
Rate MethodologyHybrid Residual
AUA StatusActive
Agreement Period2025-01-01 – 2039-12-31

Key Financial Data (FY 2024)

CPE$7.73
Signatory Landing Fee$1.6100
Enplanements13,113,084
Total Operating Revenue$316.0M
Total Operating Expense$315.6M
Operating Income$423K
Total Debt$1.4B
Rate Covenant1.25x
Unrestricted Cash$565.9M
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)15,239,719

Enplaned Passengers (FAA CATS)

13.1M+3.0%
Route data →

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$7.73-17.6%

Revenue

$316.0M-0.7%

Expense

$315.6M+10.6%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyHybrid Residual
Ratesetting Typeagreement
Cost Center StructurePrimary cost centers: Airfield/Slot, Terminal Building Complex, Cargo Facilities, and Common Use Areas
Revenue SharingNet residual method applies aeronautical revenues net of non-aeronautical revenue offsets; parking, concessions, rental car, ground rent excluded from rate base
Capital RecoveryDebt service component of landing fees and capital improvement fees

Net residual allocation: aeronautical net remaining revenues (after non-aeronautical revenue offsets) allocated among signatory airlines proportional to operations, terminal area occupied, and ramp usage at DCA

Settlement & True-Up

Monthly billing with annual true-up; DCA settlement coordinated with IAD on system basis

Annual reconciliation: actual costs vs. estimates; adjustments effective April 1 of following fiscal year

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeStrong/Traditional

Not available

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Base landing fee of $5.75 per 1,000 lbs subject to annual adjustment per net residual calculation; allocated to signatory airlines

Terminal Rental Rate

Rate DivisorRentable square footage of terminal facilities available to airlines at DCA

Terminal rents charged per rentable square foot of assigned space on net residual basis; DCA rates higher than IAD due to constrained terminal capacity

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Common Use GatesLimited common use gate availability due to DCA slot constraints
Gate AllocationFAA/IATA slot coordination; gates allocated via slot system
Common Use BaggageYes

Additional Bonds Test

Maximum Annual Debt Service on all outstanding bonds including proposed new bonds must not exceed 75% of projected Net Revenues for the fiscal year of issuance, or alternative test based on historical coverage

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.25x

Airports Authority will fix and adjust fees and charges to produce Net Revenues at least sufficient for the larger of: (a) amounts needed for debt service deposits, reserve funds, and subordinated obligations, or (b) not less than 125% of Annual Debt Service on all Bonds

Flow of Funds

Net Revenues → Senior Debt Service (Principal + Interest Accounts) → Debt Service Reserve Fund (Common Reserve Account) → Subordinated Bond Funds → Remaining Net Revenues (operations/capital)

Source Documents

Financial Statements

2024_police_annual_report.pdf

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