Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA) is the primary airport serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from downtown Washington. The airport is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
DCA opened on June 16, 1941, and was originally known as Washington National Airport. It was renamed in 1998 in honor of President Ronald Reagan. The airport covers approximately 860 acres and is located just 3 miles from downtown Washington, making it the closest commercial airport to the nation’s capital.
DCA serves as a hub for American Airlines and operates with federal slot restrictions that limit the number of scheduled takeoffs and landings. In 2025, the airport served 24.89 million passengers, a 5.3% decline from its 2024 record of 26.29 million. The reduction is attributed to softening demand for government-related travel, a 43-day federal shutdown, and the aftermath of the January 2025 midair collision. At the end of 2025, DCA was served by eight airlines providing more than 400 daily departures to 108 destinations.
The airport operates two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 (formerly Terminal A) serves Air Canada, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines. Terminal 2 (formerly Terminals B and C) serves Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United Airlines.