Washington Manassas Airport can now book commercial passenger flights
Washington Manassas Airport, formerly known as Manassas Regional Airport, has taken a big step toward its goal of offering passenger service.
The airport, which is owned by the city of Manassas, Virginia, received its FAA Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate, a designation required before commercial airlines can begin service.
During a ceremony Monday, FAA Associate Administrator Dan Edwards presented a framed version of the certificate to airport leaders.
Edwards said it’s “extremely rare” for an existing airport that caters to private flights to clear this hurdle.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to do this, and it’s the first one in Virginia for over 50 years,” Edwards said.
The certificate confirms the airport meets federal requirements for safety, emergency response and operations, and marks “a turning point for the city of Manassas and for the entire national capital region,” he said
Airport Director Juan Rivera said the milestone followed months of preparation, inspections and coordination with federal regulators.
“There were projects, there were inspections, there were meetings, there were questions, there were more questions and there were probably a few moments when some of us wondered, ‘Were we ever going to get to this day?’ But we did,” Rivera said.
Bringing commercial flights to the airport is part of a public-private partnership.
Rivera said the next step is securing an airline, something he said the airport is “very close” to doing. His hope is that the first flights begin in November 2027.
The airport’s journey into commercial service will eventually include building a 32,000-square-foot terminal that will have Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoints, gates, baggage claim facilities and concessions. There’s also a plan to add parking, with at least 2,000 parking spaces for airline passengers.
When service begins, Rivera said the goal is three to four departures a day. He said he hopes the airport will one day accommodate as many as 24 departures a day.
The airport is expected to focus on low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers.
Airport Commission Chairman Rod Hall said the milestone signals the airport’s arrival on a larger stage, citing a line he said his children contributed to his speech.
“Washington Manassas Airport has officially entered the chat,” Hall said.
Leaders see economic boost for Manassas region
City and other regional leaders hope bringing passengers into the airport will also serve as a shot in the arm for the surrounding community.
“Today we celebrate progress. We celebrate partnership. And most importantly, we celebrate the future of the City of Manassas,” Davis said.
Davis told WTOP the airport’s expansion will help bring foot traffic to local businesses and even lead to more businesses choosing to call Manassas home.
“The airport is not that far away from our historic downtown, which we are so thankful to have those mom-and-pop shops, but they need people. They need people flying in. They need businesses coming in. We need people staying in the city of Manassas as well,” Davis said.
U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said Manassas is “growing so quickly.”
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“There’s so much happening here, and there’s a lot of demand right now for having a more regional airport right now next to Dulles Airport. And so having this here is going to be huge for so many people in the community,” he said.
Prince William County Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson called the airport “one of our region’s most important economic engines,” saying that it helps connect businesses and communities throughout Northern Virginia and beyond.
Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey said expanded air service has been a regional goal for years.
“This is absolutely a game changer for our region. It is something that we’ve waited a long time for, but this will change the trajectory of how we serve our community,” Bailey said.
Not everyone focused solely on economic growth. State Sen. Danica Roem, a Democrat representing Prince William County, said continued success will depend on maintaining strong relationships with nearby residents.
“This is a partnership with the community, with the residents,” Roem said, pointing to concerns such as noise, traffic and environmental impacts.
For now, flights are still more than a year away. But airport leaders said crossing this certificate hurdle means years of planning have finally paid off.
“We’ve worked hard to get ready for commercial service. Now it’s time to put all that preparation to use,” Rivera said.
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