Washington Dulles International Airport is moving forward with plans for a private passenger terminal that will offer commercial airline travelers a separate entrance, dedicated security screening, private suites, and exclusive lounges.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, announced Tuesday that it selected daa International, an Irish airport management company, to develop and operate the proposed 37,000-square-foot facility.

The terminal will serve passengers seeking a more private and personalized airport experience without requiring them to fly on a private jet. According to DAA International spokesperson Kevin Cullinane, a VIP passenger is any commercial airline traveler seeking a more private, personalized, and efficient journey.

Plans call for dedicated parking, private security screening, suites, and other amenities separated from the airport’s main passenger concourses.

“By introducing this premium service, Dulles is responding to traveler demand, supporting continued growth, and joining other leading international airports around the world that offer elevated services for business and leisure travelers alike,” said Chryssa Westerlund, the airport authority’s chief revenue officer.

Daa International will spend approximately 30 months developing the facility and will operate it for an initial 20-year term once it opens. The company’s parent organization is owned by the Irish government.

The proposed terminal will be relatively small compared with Dulles’ main terminal, which contains approximately 1.3 million square feet of floor space. The VIP facility is intended to provide an additional premium option for travelers who value privacy, convenience, and more personalized service.

The project comes as Dulles prepares for a sweeping modernization program approved by the airport authority’s board in August. The $19.9 billion initiative includes $6.2 billion to reconstruct the main terminal and $3.75 billion for underground tunnels and an automated passenger transportation system designed to replace the vehicles currently used to carry travelers across the airport tarmac.

Construction on the main terminal reconstruction is scheduled to begin in late 2027. The terminal work, underground tunnels, automated transit system, and a new concourse are expected to be completed by 2034.

The approved modernization program covers approximately 5 million square feet of new or renovated airport space. Much of the work will be financed through $14.2 billion in new municipal bonds.

The program is separate from a broader $22 billion airport development plan President Donald Trump announced in July. The approved $19.9 billion package does not include a parking garage and transportation center included in Trump's larger proposal.

The scale of the improvements is expected to increase costs for airlines operating at Dulles. Airline expenses per boarding passenger are projected to rise from approximately $13 to between $60 and $65 by around 2038, with the higher charges helping finance the airport's extensive upgrades.

The new VIP terminal will add another premium service to Dulles as the airport pursues its long-term expansion plans, although the broader modernization program is expected to bring substantial costs for the airlines serving it.