Washington Manassas Airport in Virginia has received approval to accommodate commercial passenger airline services, adding another potential airport option for the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the airport a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate on 31 August. The certification confirms that the airport meets federal safety requirements for airports serving certain commercial passenger operations.
The certificate covers requirements including runway and taxiway pavement, aircraft rescue and firefighting, emergency planning, wildlife hazard management and staff training.
The approval means Manassas could become a fourth commercial airport serving the wider Washington, DC region, alongside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The certification also marks the first time in 53 years that an airport in Virginia has received a Part 139 operating certificate.
FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Dan Edwards said:Commercial flights coming into Manassas will provide more economic growth within the community and create another commercial airport to service the Washington D.C. area. As the first airport in Virginia to receive an operating certificate in 53 years, this highlights our commitment to strengthening the National Airspace System and expanding communities access to safe, efficient airports.
The FAA has invested more than 46 million USD at Washington Manassas Airport over the past five years. The funding has supported infrastructure work including runway rehabilitation and preparations for a new air traffic control tower.
The airport has also received upgrades to its air traffic control systems as part of wider federal efforts to modernise the US air traffic control network.
New high-speed fibre infrastructure was installed in May 2026 to improve communications, while a National Airspace System Voice Recorder was delivered in August. Modern voice switches were also installed in August, replacing systems dating from the 1990s.
The FAA expects a Surface Awareness Initiative system to be delivered in October 2027. The technology is intended to give controllers real-time information on aircraft and vehicles operating on airport surfaces, including when they cannot be seen from the control tower.
The Part 139 certification does not itself establish commercial airline routes or guarantee that passenger services will begin at the airport. Airlines would still need to determine whether to operate services from Manassas and establish appropriate routes and schedules.
The approval nevertheless provides the regulatory basis for the airport to accommodate qualifying commercial passenger operations as the Washington, DC region’s aviation network continues to develop.
