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.Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter.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.“DCA’s current numbering scheme. (Screenshot from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)DCA’s future numbering scheme. (Screenshot from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)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.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.More: Washington’s DCA airport shows off final step ahead of major transformationMore 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.(Screenshot from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)The work wraps up this summer and fall when workers finish installing permanent exterior roadway signs.
