Alexandria, VA— Next time you travel through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or meet someone there, take a look at the results of several unique historic preservation projects now on view for travelers and members of the public. The projects include the site of a former Colonial plantation called Abingdon, which was the home of George Washington's granddaughter and other prominent families in the Washington and Virginia area.

Thanksgiving week, and the holiday season which follows, are expected to bring more travelers to Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is offering travel advice to area residents. "The holiday season brings more crowded conditions to our airports so it may be wise to allow extra time for parking and check-in to ensure a smooth trip," says Airports Authority President/CEO James A. Wilding. During the holidays, the Airports Authority offers these travel tips:

Alexandria, VA— Travelers and visitors to Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports will see signs of the holiday season when they arrive at the Airports.

Alexandria, VA— U.S. Airways' low-cost carrier service, MetroJet, began serving Washington Dulles International Airport on December 2 with daily flights to Orlando. MetroJet provides three daily non-stop flights to Orlando and adds a fourth to that city as well as two new daily non-stop flights to Tampa on December 22. On January 6 next year, MetroJet will expand service to Fort Lauderdale with two daily non-stop flights.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority opens a new entrance to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway on Tuesday, February 1, 2000. At that time, the new ramp will take northbound traffic onto the airport and merge with southbound Parkway traffic which uses the main entrance to the airport. This will give drivers one, direct route to the terminals and parking garages.

Of the 50 largest airports in the world, Washington Dulles International Airport was the fastest growing in 1999, according to the Airports Council International World Headquarters in Switzerland. Nearly 20 million (19,796,939) passengers used the airport in 1999. This is a four million increase in the number of passengers over 1998.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Business Administration Committee selected the contractor to provide taxicab service at Washington Dulles International Airport. Dulles Taxi Systems, Inc. of Arlington, VA was selected. The company will begin operating taxi service this Spring. The three-year contract has a single two-year renewal option. Approximately one out of five passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport uses a taxicab. This represents nearly 1.5 million passengers every year.

A group of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Officers will arm themselves with trays and aprons to support Special Olympics as part of the "Cops and Lobsters" fund raising event on Friday, April 14th. Authority Police will be working for tips at the Red Lobster in Herndon, Virginia from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Their tips will go to support Virginia Special Olympics and the Special Olympics World Games.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will officially open the two pedestrian bridges that have been built at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to provide safe access to the Mount Vernon Trail that runs parallel to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Potomac River.

The annual "tug of war" between human and machine will take place Saturday, June 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Washington Dulles International Airport as part of the Dulles Day Family Festival featuring the 8th Annual Plane Pull.

Bolstered by an 18 percent increase in weekly international departures this year over 1999, Washington Dulles International Airport ranks fifth in the nation for transatlantic service this summer, according to analysis prepared by Simat, Hellienson and Eichner (SH&E), an aviation consulting firm.