Dulles mobile lounges could last another two decades, airport officials say

Some existing mobile lounges at Dulles International Airport have been operating since John F. Kennedy was president in the mid-20th century, and with proper care, airport officials hope to keep them in service until almost the middle of the 21st century.

The iconic transportation equipment is a critical part of airport operations and “will remain essential for the next 15 to 20 years,” Thomas Beatty, chief operations officer for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), told the agency’s board of directors last Wednesday (Sept. 17).

While Dulles now has a network of underground passages and trains connecting the main terminal with various other concourses, moving passengers around via mobile lounges — also known as people movers — continues to be an important intra-airport transportation tool, Beatty said.

Two distinct types are operated at Dulles, according to MWAA officials.

The original mobile lounges, which date to the airport’s opening in 1962, were constructed by Chrysler Corp. in association with Budd Co. They can carry more than 100 passengers, both seated and standing. Nineteen remain in service, officials say.

Plane Mates, which date back to 1971, can load passengers directly onto aircraft as well as provide intra-terminal transport. Currently, 30 are in service.

Both types are approximately 54 feet long, 15 feet tall and weigh just under 80,000 pounds.

Even as construction continues on a new concourse that will be accessible by the Dulles Aerotrain, MWAA has contracted with a Pennsylvania firm to conduct complete overhauls on the mobile lounges, with new engines, transmissions, HVAC systems and safety equipment. The cost of the contract, ratified in 2023, is up to $160 million if all vehicles are rehabilitated.

A prototype is expected to be returned to Dulles for testing in late 2026. From there, a renovation schedule will be determined.

Maintaining the fleet helps in “ensuring Dulles has the operational resources needed,” Beatty said.

They will come in handy during ongoing redevelopment of capital facilities that envision annual passenger growth from about 25 million today to as many as 90 million later in the century.