Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport renumbers its gates
If you're a frequent traveler through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), you'll soon notice a change.
The super convenient airport across the Potomac River from the nation's capital is renumbering its gates as it emerges from a massive, multi-year construction project.
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The change happens on June 4, when DCA's gates will go from an all-numeric numbering scheme to an alphanumeric one, a spokesperson for the airport's operator, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), told TPG. It's a numbering scheme already in place at MWAA's other airport, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
"The purpose of the sign enhancements is to make it easier for passengers to find their gate, given the airport's five-concourse layout," the spokesperson said. "Gate numbers will add a letter (A, B, C, D, E) in front of them. Following this update, terminals will be numbered 1 and 2."
The renumbering is quite simple because the numbers aren't changing — letters are just being added. For example, you'll catch an American Airlines flight at gate 35 on June 3. By June 5, that gate simply becomes gate D35. The MWAA spokesperson also emphasized that no one is shifting gates as part of this move.
More: Washington's DCA airport shows off final step ahead of major transformation
More than 1,000 signs are being prepared for the transition, which takes place between June 4 and June 10 but kicks in on June 5, MWAA said.
The work wraps up this summer and fall when workers finish installing permanent exterior roadway signs.