Next week鈥檚 soft opening of a new concourse at Reagan National Airport will provide creature comforts to air travelers 鈥� and end the suffering of passengers who looked at the departure board and realized they were flying out of Gate 35X.
Bye, 35X: Tour of the concourse at Reagan National that will retire the dreaded gate
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At Reagan National Airport, reporters were offered a peek at the new concourse and bid farewell to Gate 35X. The new concourse will have soft launch and begin operations April 20.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
Starting April 20, passengers will be able to walk to 14 newly-built gates, which will be the home of American Airlines’ regional service.
Until now, 35X has been a less-than-comfortable experience for passengers, said vice president and airport manager Paul Malandrino.
鈥淚t was a very crowded, old room. Regardless of the weather, you had to walk outside, get on your bus, take the bus, get off the bus, in the weather, get on your airplane,鈥� said Malandrino.
Glen Zacek, director of customer service for the airline at the airport, didn鈥檛 disagree.
鈥淭he whole busing operation, the hardstands and everything, was really just built out of necessity,鈥� Zacek said. 鈥淭his is built for the customer.鈥�
On Thursday, reporters were offered the chance to see the concourse before it opens to the public.
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When you walk into the new concourse on the ground level, at (what was) the northern edge of Terminal C, here鈥檚 what鈥檚 ahead.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
The sounds of hammers and other construction noises continue in the open, airy concourse.
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Moving sidewalks will be finished up soon.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
Reagan National鈥檚 facilities were designed to serve 15 million passengers per year, but more than 23 million passengers traveled through the airport in 2019. The airport鈥檚 Project Journey will cost about $1 billion.
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These 14 newly constructed gates replace the 14 so-called hardstands the bus took you to when your flight was at Gate 35X. So it鈥檚 a one for one swap 鈥� not more passengers, just a more comfortable experience.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
While the walls and glass and metal are in keeping with the look of the adjacent terminals, the new concourse has modern features.
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All 850 seats in the new concourse have chargers and power outlets nearby.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
In the weeks following the soft launch, concessions, including restaurants and coffee shops, will move into the new concourse.
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Similar to Dulles, there鈥檚 an indoor area for pets to “visit.”
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
As work crews continue to finalize construction before the soft launch, the airy, clean, comfortable concourse appears to be almost ready for passengers.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
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Your other news sources likely won鈥檛 provide this in-depth coverage....
— Neal Augenstein (@Augenstein草莓传媒)
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Concessions will be moving in shortly.
(草莓传媒/Neal Augenstein)
As for Gate 35X, an airport spokesperson said the area it occupied 鈥� down the escalator from Gate 35 鈥� will be repurposed.
Finally.
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