Updated: October 2, 2025
Reagan National grew from precarious Potomac‑side airfields into a modern, policy‑shaped gateway for the U.S. capital. These milestones show how proximity to the Capitol, restricted airspace, and federal law shaped the airport’s evolution.
Early Washington aviation clustered on the Virginia shore. Hoover Field (1926) and Washington Airport (1927) merged on August 2, 1933 as Washington–Hoover Airport. With roads, power lines, and short runways crowding the site, safety concerns mounted and planners sought a replacement with room to grow.
On September 28, 1938, the administration selected Gravelly Point for a new “National Airport,” funded by New Deal programs with riverfront reclamation to create a safe, expandable airfield. The airport opened to traffic on June 16, 1941 during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
DCA sits beside restricted P‑56 airspace and near the Pentagon, requiring precise procedures. The curving River Visual Runway 19 arrival along the Potomac is both a postcard view and an operational necessity to avoid prohibited airspace.
In 1987 Congress created the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to operate Washington National and Dulles under a long‑term federal lease. In 1986, a 1,250‑mile Perimeter Rule was codified to manage demand at the close‑in airport while encouraging long‑haul growth at Dulles; later “beyond‑perimeter” exemptions modestly expanded nonstop options.
On February 6, 1998, federal law changed the name from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
After the September 11 attacks, DCA closed to most traffic. Flights resumed in phases in early October with extraordinary security measures; general aviation later returned under TSA’s DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP).
The Project Journey program delivered a 14‑gate concourse replacing Gate 35X and two 50,000‑sq‑ft security checkpoint buildings, easing chokepoints and modernizing passenger flow.
Presidents typically use Joint Base Andrews (ADW), home to the VC‑25 (“Air Force One”) and secure compounds. DCA does host VIP and diplomatic movements under special procedures, reflecting its role as the closest major commercial airport to the Capitol.