Manassas Airport Targets November 2027 for First Commercial Flights

The Washington, D.C., area is getting a fourth commercial airport. Washington Manassas Airport in Northern Virginia plans to open a new passenger terminal in the fall of 2027 and start its first commercial flights in November 2027, according to Travel Off Path.

For travelers, that means another option besides Reagan National, Dulles and Baltimore/Washington International. The airport sits about 30 miles from the busy airspace over central D.C., and it plans to start small, with three to four departures a day.

What it means for people flying in and out of D.C.

Each of the region’s current airports has a familiar drawback. Reagan National (DCA) operates in a crowded corridor where military activity and VIP airspace restrictions cause delays. Dulles (IAD) is reached by toll roads and handles large crowds in its terminals. BWI is a long ride from downtown D.C. and the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Manassas is pitching itself as a small, quick airport. Its long-term goal is a “curb-to-gate” time of roughly 7 to 12 minutes, Travel Off Path reported. That is the time from getting dropped off to reaching the gate. The plan avoids multi-level parking garages and long walks through concourses.

No airline has announced routes to Manassas so far. The outlet reported that talks with several domestic carriers are underway, but none has been confirmed, so travelers cannot yet book a flight or see which cities will be served.

A certificate Virginia had not issued in 53 years

The step that made commercial service possible came on Aug. 31, 2026. On that date the Federal Aviation Administration granted the airport a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate. Part 139 is the FAA rule that airports must meet before they can handle scheduled passenger flights by airlines.

According to Travel Off Path, it is the first new commercial operating certificate for any airport in Virginia in 53 years.

The airfield was long known as Manassas Regional Airport and served mostly private jets, charter flights and hobby pilots. It took the name Washington Manassas Airport in the spring of 2026 to reflect its move toward airline service. Its airport code stays HEF.

How fast service will grow

Airport leaders are keeping the opening schedule light on purpose. The first phase calls for three to four daily departures. Once operations prove reliable, the airport plans to expand to a maximum of 24 daily flights, the outlet reported. It gave no date for reaching that ceiling.

The cap of 24 daily flights keeps Manassas far smaller than the region’s three major airports, which suits travelers who want a short trip through security more than a wide choice of routes.

What happens next

• Fall 2027: the new passenger terminal is scheduled to open.
• November 2027: the first commercial flights are scheduled to depart.
• 2029: a new 125-foot air traffic control tower is targeted for completion and full operation.

Travel Off Path reported that the project timeline has already been adjusted once to allow for construction and environmental reviews. Until airlines announce routes, schedules and fares for HEF remain unknown, and travelers heading to the capital in the meantime will still be choosing among DCA, IAD and BWI.

Source: Travel Off Path