I Can’t Be the Only One Who Loves Dulles
An opinion piece argues that Washington Dulles International Airport is a misunderstood architectural marvel rather than the 'terrible' facility critics and Donald Trump claim. The author defends the airport's unique design and functionality against modernization plans.
Why it matters
The piece highlights the intersection of public infrastructure, political rhetoric, and architectural preservation in the US.
A plan to renovate one of America’s most hated airports will surely be popular—but the airport is actually fine the way it is.
Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic. Source: Getty. August 2, 2026, 11:44 AM ET Share Save A couple of years ago , squinting into the morning sun on a Dulles International Airport people mover after a red-eye from London, I found myself chatting with a flight attendant. Looking at the tired travelers packed in around her, she said in her British accent that she always dreaded flying through Washington. “I just can’t believe this is the airport at your nation’s capital .” I told her that she was not alone, and, further, that I usually refer to the hulking people mover as the “hell bus.” Everyone around us looked miserable. She laughed.
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