The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is gearing up for what could be a record-breaking summer travel season at Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Last year, Dulles saw 9.5 million passengers during the May-to-August travel period, while Reagan National served 9 million passengers. This year, these numbers are expected to increase by 5 percent and 1 to 3 percent, respectively.
One of the key focuses for the Airports Authority is enhancing the experience for international travelers at Dulles. The President/CEO of the Airports Authority, Jack Potter, mentioned that they are collaborating with government partners to introduce technology-based security and passport-processing enhancements, especially for international arrivals who need to clear U.S. Customs upon landing.
With Dulles offering flights to over 190 destinations worldwide through 40 airlines, and global travel demand on the rise, a surge in passenger numbers is anticipated this summer. To help streamline the passport processing experience for international travelers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is testing and implementing new methods at Dulles and other airports.
Passengers can expedite their return and reduce Customs wait times by utilizing the Mobile Passport Control smartphone app for free and considering enrolling in Global Entry services.
