New Airport in the D.C. Area? Manassas Airport Eyes Commercial Service in Two Years

Washington D.C. residents will have a new option for passengers to take commercial flights. Manassas Regional Airport, about 40 miles from downtown Washington D.C., is eyeing its first commercial flights in approximately two years. 

In cooperation with Avports, a Washington-Dulles-based operator of a dozen airports across the country (note that Avports does not operate Dulles), the airport hopes to expand its passenger terminal facilities at a cost of $75-125 million. The new option would challenge Washington-Dulles domestic services amid its small size, notably located 30 minutes away.

In a recent Manassas City Council meeting presentation, Avports highlighted its proposal to local Manassas, Virginia city leaders. The city still needs to approve Avports pitch. CEO of Avports Jorge Roberts touted its proposal: "We want this to be a flagship for us and we are going to do it right." 

Currently utilized primarily for general aviation, Manassas Regional Airport is working towards becoming a Part 139 Airport. This designation by the FAA certifies an airport for commercial operations and is a requirement.

The airport's commercial launch will be segmented into phases. Phase 1 would allow for the continued usage of the airport's current terminal. A current 8500 sq. ft. equipment storage building would be converted into a check-in lobby and security area. The main terminal will encompass the main hold room, a concession, and the baggage reclaim area. The current setup would around for around 4-6 parking positions for narrowbody aircraft.

Phase 2 will see an expanded modern terminal facility of up to an additional 35,000 sq. ft, allowing for a more spacious terminal area and more concessions. This phase will need 18 months to be completed, given the necessary approval. It is unclear whether the airport will utilize gates to air-stairs to board passengers. Outside of the terminal itself, the airport hopes to add short-term and long-term parking facilities, in addition to a curb dedicated to taxis or TNCs like Uber and Lyft. 

A website launched to promote Manassas Regional Airport's proposed foray into commercial operations showcases the potential economic benefits of the new airport. It includes adding hundreds of potential jobs and a $40 million economic impact for the region. 

One major element will be support from local stakeholders. A transition to a commercial airport will likely see resistance from local residents. Washington-Dulles International Airport received backlash for increased noise as neighbors moved in during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar reactions are possible as Manassas transitions to commercial flying. Nonetheless, the airport believes that it will only see an uptick of 11% in aircraft operations.

Due to the airport's simplistic layout, Manassas Regional Airport touts a 7-minute curb-to-gate experience. This convenience gives it a clear advantage over neighboring Washington-Dulles, among other airports in the area. In combination with Manassas' probable lower costs than its neighbors — an estimated $8-10 per psasenger, per InsideNova — the airport has garnered interest from airline partners.

Airline Service

Avports Vice President of Business Development Matt Shelby said, "Our airline partners, multiple of them are extremely excited about serving this market. And in a way from the airline side that I haven't seen in a while."

Manassas Regional Airport and Avports expect to have the first commercial flight in about two years. It is clear that anticipation from airlines is high. Mr. Shelby adds, "I got a call on Friday afternoon that asked if there was any way that we could be ready within one year." 

While Avports declined to name potentially interested parties due to non-disclosure agreements, there are multiple airlines that fit the bill. Most notably, the low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines is a prime candidate to launch flights at the airport.

Avelo Airlines targets underserved airports in large metropolitan areas and launches flights to popular destinations from the airport. Avelo Airlines worked with Avports to help it launch its New Haven, Conn. base and to undergo a similarly-sized $100 million airport expansion. 

New Haven, Connecticut was similarly underserved in a relatively wealthy metropolitan area. The New Haven base has proven to be successful for Avelo Airlines as it has expanded to over 15 destinations. A majority of these flights are to the South, especially Florida. It is likely that most flights for Manassas initially would be centralized to Florida like Orlando or Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Whether Manassas would be a base for Avelo Airlines is unclear.

Avelo Airlines has previously tried two routes from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), highlighting the airline's familiarity with the market. The airline operates flights from Baltimore to New Haven, and formerly operated flights from Baltimore to Orlando and Wilmington, N.C.

Avelo Airlines has experience working with shorter runways. The 2-year-old low-cost carrier utilizes a 5800 ft. runway in New Haven, while the primary runway at Manassas is about 6200 ft. Manassas Regional Airport's master plan currently underway has a potential runway extension under consideration.

In an interview with InsideNova, the airport’s manager Juan Rivera highlighted a past proposal from Allegiant Air to serve the airport, except Allegiant wanted the airport to pay for the necessary processes to become a commercial airport. Ultimately, this never came to fruition. Allegiant currently serves nearby Washington Dulles to several destinations, including Austin, Jacksonville, Nashville and Sarasota.

This proposal could have occurred under the reign of Andrew Levy, current CEO of Avelo when he was the president of Allegiant. On the other hand, Allegiant could be one of the several parties interested. The carrier itself has experience in serving smaller airports, such as MidAmerica Airport, an alternative airport near St. Louis.

Regardless of the potential airline behind new commercial service, Avports VP of Business Development Matt Shelby adds, "I can tell you, you will not be disappointed."