United is getting the terminal of its dreams at Washington Dulles. How will it change?

United Airlines' hub at Dulles International Airport (IAD) has long been on the cusp of something big.In 2018, Scott Kirby, then-president and now CEO of United, said growth at IAD was doing "really well" and hinted at more to come. A year later, the airline added gates at the airport to support more flights. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic erased much of those gains.Fast forward to 2026, and things are looking up again for United at the Washington, D.C.-area airport.United's hub at the airport is bigger — a lot bigger — than it was during its previous peak in 2019. Seats are set to jump 24% this year compared to seven years ago, according to schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The growth at IAD is second only to United's strategic mid-continent hub at Denver International Airport (DEN).And its growth at IAD is about to be super-charged, thanks to the July 29 agreement to build out the airport's master plan over the next decade. This means travelers will finally be able to say goodbye to the dated and cramped "temporary" Concourse C-D and jet-age mobile lounges in the next few years. It also means a lot more space for United to play with.United Airlines planes at Dulles ...