Virginia is home to 66 public-use airports, including two of the nation's busiest airports serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In 2024, Virginia airports welcomed over 53 million passengers combined, setting new all-time records.
📍 Sterling, VA | Code: IAD
The largest airport in Virginia and a major United Airlines hub, serving 160+ destinations worldwide including extensive international routes.
📍 Arlington, VA | Code: DCA
Located just minutes from downtown Washington D.C., Reagan National is the most convenient airport for the capital with primarily domestic flights.
📍 Norfolk, VA | Code: ORF
Serving Hampton Roads and coastal Virginia, Norfolk offers convenient access to Virginia Beach, the world's largest naval base, and northeast North Carolina.
📍 Richmond, VA | Code: RIC
Virginia's capital city airport offering growing service with record destinations. Supports 16,000 jobs and $2.1 billion annual economic impact.
| Airport | Code | 2024 Passengers | YoY Growth | US Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Dulles International | IAD | 27,250,000 | +5.8% | #24 |
| Ronald Reagan Washington National | DCA | 26,290,000 | +3.3% | #25 |
| Richmond International | RIC | 4,884,093 | +2.7% | #65 |
| Norfolk International | ORF | 4,860,000 | +7.0% | #65 |
| Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional | ROA | 735,000 | +5.2% | #140 |
| Charlottesville-Albemarle | CHO | 300,000+ | +4.1% | #165 |
| Newport News/Williamsburg | PHF | 210,000 | +3.5% | #180 |
| Lynchburg Regional | LYH | 95,000 | +2.8% | #240 |
| Shenandoah Valley Regional | SHD | 15,000 | -1.2% | #420 |
50+ airlines serving 160 destinations
International Highlights:
Top Domestic Routes:
8 airlines serving 97 destinations
Major Airlines:
Top Routes:
9 airlines serving 45 destinations
Airlines:
Top 2024 Destinations:
10 airlines serving 37 destinations (record)
Airlines:
Key Routes:
| Airport | Economy/Day | Garage/Day | Terminal/Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | $12-14 | $17-21 | $6-7 | Free shuttle from economy lot |
| Reagan National (DCA) | $19 | $29 | $6 | First 60 minutes FREE |
| Norfolk (ORF) | $8 | $15 | $3 | Garage connected to terminal |
| Richmond (RIC) | $7 | $12-20 | $2 | 60-min free for pickups |
| Roanoke (ROA) | $7 | $10 | $2 | All lots walkable to terminal |
| Charlottesville (CHO) | $8 | $12 | $2 | Free first 30 minutes |
| Airport | PreCheck Available | Checkpoints | Enrollment Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | YES | East, West, Dedicated PreCheck | On-site IDEMIA & CLEAR |
| Reagan National (DCA) | YES | North, Center, South Pier, Concourse A | On-site IDEMIA & CLEAR |
| Norfolk (ORF) | YES | Concourse A & B | Off-site (area locations) |
| Richmond (RIC) | YES | Concourse A & B | Off-site (area locations) |
| Roanoke (ROA) | YES | Main checkpoint | Off-site |
| Charlottesville (CHO) | Blended | Main checkpoint | Off-site |
| Newport News (PHF) | Blended | Main checkpoint | Off-site |
| Lynchburg (LYH) | Blended | Main checkpoint | Off-site |
| Shenandoah Valley (SHD) | Blended | Main checkpoint | Off-site |
Serving southwest Virginia including Virginia Tech, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional offers connections to major hubs.
Convenient for University of Virginia students and Charlottesville area travelers.
Gateway to Colonial Williamsburg and Virginia's Historic Triangle.
Serving Lynchburg, Liberty University, and central Virginia.
Serving Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley.
Virginia has 66 public-use airports total, with 57 serving general aviation:
Economic Impact: 17,850 licensed pilots and 5,966 registered general aviation aircraft in Virginia.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is the largest airport in Virginia, handling 27.25 million passengers in 2024 - an all-time record. It serves as a major United Airlines hub with over 160 destinations in 49 countries. In 2024, Dulles surpassed Reagan National for the first time since 2021 to become the busiest airport in the Washington D.C. region.
Virginia has 66 public-use airports, with 9 offering scheduled commercial passenger service. The FAA recognizes approximately 400 total airports in the state, including 213 private airports, 145 heliports, 3 seaplane bases, and various other aviation facilities. Of the public-use airports, 47 are included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to downtown Washington D.C., located just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. It's approximately 4 miles from the U.S. Capitol and accessible via the Metro Blue and Yellow lines. Reagan National served 26.29 million passengers in 2024, primarily on domestic routes with 97 nonstop destinations.
Over 50 airlines serve Virginia airports. At Dulles (IAD), United Airlines dominates with 68% of flights, joined by major international carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Air France. Reagan National (DCA) hosts American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and Spirit. Norfolk and Richmond airports are served by American, Delta, United, Southwest, Breeze, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant.
Yes, all Virginia commercial airports offer on-site parking. Reagan National (DCA) rates range from $19/day (economy) to $29/day (garage) with the first 60 minutes free. Dulles (IAD) offers economy parking at $12-14/day with free shuttle service. Richmond (RIC) has the best value at $7/day economy. Norfolk (ORF) offers parking from $8/day. Off-site options near major airports can offer rates as low as $4-5/day with shuttle service.
Yes! Washington Dulles (IAD) is a major international gateway with flights to 49 countries including Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America. In 2024, Dulles saw a record 10.38 million international passengers. Norfolk (ORF) offers seasonal international service to Cancun, Mexico. Other Virginia airports connect to international destinations through hub airports like Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is the best airport for Virginia Beach, located just 20 minutes away. It served 4.86 million passengers in 2024 with 45 nonstop destinations including Orlando, Atlanta, New York, and San Diego. The airport is undergoing major upgrades including a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Alternative options include Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF) about 45 minutes away.
Yes, Washington Dulles has multiple TSA PreCheck options. There's a dedicated PreCheck security checkpoint on the check-in level, plus PreCheck lanes at both the East and West security mezzanines. Dulles also has on-site IDEMIA and CLEAR enrollment centers. The Global Entry enrollment center is located in the Main Terminal lower level, open Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM. 99% of PreCheck users wait less than 10 minutes.
Virginia's aviation industry has significant economic impact. Richmond International alone supports 16,000 jobs and contributes $2.1 billion annually to the regional economy. Statewide, Virginia has 17,850 licensed pilots and 5,966 registered general aviation aircraft. The combined passenger traffic through Dulles and Reagan National exceeded 53 million in 2024, making the Washington airports system one of the busiest in the nation.
Yes, 2024 was a record-breaking year for Virginia airports! Both Dulles (27.25 million) and Reagan National (26.29 million) set all-time passenger records. Combined, the two airports handled 53.43 million passengers - a record for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Norfolk and Richmond also achieved record passenger numbers. This growth is expected to continue into 2025 with new routes and airline expansions at all major Virginia airports.
| City | Airport Name | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington | Ronald Reagan Washington National | DCA |
| Sterling | Washington Dulles International | IAD |
| Richmond | Richmond International | RIC |
| Norfolk | Norfolk International | ORF |
| Roanoke | Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional | ROA |
| Charlottesville | Charlottesville-Albemarle | CHO |
| Newport News | Newport News/Williamsburg International | PHF |
| Lynchburg | Lynchburg Regional | LYH |
| Weyers Cave | Shenandoah Valley Regional | SHD |
| Leesburg | Leesburg Executive | JYO |
| Manassas | Manassas Regional | HEF |
| Winchester | Winchester Regional | OKV |
| Danville | Danville Regional | DAN |
| Blacksburg | Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive | BCB |
| Norfolk | Chesapeake Regional | CPK |
| Suffolk | Suffolk Executive | SFQ |
| Stafford | Stafford Regional | RMN |
| Culpeper | Culpeper Regional | CJR |
| Farmville | Farmville Regional | FVX |
| Front Royal | Front Royal-Warren County | FRR |
Showing 20 of 66 public-use airports. For complete directory, visit Virginia Department of Aviation.
Last updated on November 29, 2025