CHICAGO, Nov. 10, 2026 — United opened a new 14-gate concourse at its Washington Dulles hub on Nov. 10. Separately, a 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Newark diverted to Athens on Nov. 9 and was taken out of service for inspection.
Concourse E at Dulles
- The concourse was unveiled Nov. 9 and opened to passengers Nov. 10. It has 14 jet-bridge gates and 435,000 square feet, serves domestic and international flights, and links to the AeroTrain. It is the airport’s first new concourse in nearly 20 years.
- A new United Club of about 40,000 square feet with more than 600 seats raises United’s lounge space at Dulles by about 70%.
- The concourse is phase one of the Dulles Global Gateway program, which is estimated at more than $20 billion in total.
- United flies more than 250 daily departures to 135 destinations from Dulles and expects more than 300 next summer. A321XLR flights to Amsterdam and Dublin start in December, and Toulouse and Milan follow in 2027.
- CEO Scott Kirby called Dulles “a critical part of United’s global network and growth strategy.”
UA168 diverts to Athens
About 90 minutes after leaving Tel Aviv on Nov. 9, the crew of UA168 to Newark reported a technical problem; TheTravel reports it was a strong odor in the cabin. The 787-9 (N24993, according to AirLive) landed in Athens at about 3:02 a.m. local time. No injuries were reported. The aircraft was grounded for a full maintenance inspection and the flight was cancelled. Passengers were rebooked, including on UA125 Athens–Newark and a replacement aircraft. The cause is under investigation (TBA).
What it means for non-revs
- At Dulles, gate assignments will shift as flights move into Concourse E. Recheck your gate when you list and again before boarding.
- More departures planned at Dulles for next summer should mean more seats to work with on IAD standby lists.
- Passengers rebooked from UA168 may have tightened loads on United’s Athens–Newark and Tel Aviv flights for a few days after the diversion.
Sources
- AirlineGeeks: United Unveils 14-Gate Concourse at Dulles
- AirLive: United UA168 from tel Aviv to Newark declared an emergency and diverted to Athens
- TheTravel: United Airlines Abruptly Cancels UA168 To Newark After Emergency Landing In Athens
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