Quick Summary
- Avports, the company that runs Washington Manassas Airport, has started the first phase of terminal-area construction, according to Potomac Local and Aviation Pros reports on October 14, 2026.
- The Airport Commission has recommended a $29.3 million contract with Costello Construction to replace the air traffic control tower, Potomac Local reported on October 19. Manassas City Council still has to approve it.
- The new tower is projected to be finished in June 2029. Commercial passenger service is targeted for the end of 2027, and no airline has been announced.
- The terminal project is now estimated at about $80 million, up from an earlier $50 million estimate.
- The reports do not address noise, traffic or flight paths, so those questions are still open.
In this post: What is happening at the airport | The control tower decision | What has been said about timing | What it means for residents and buyers | Sources and reporting limits | FAQ
What is happening at the airport
The airport many people still call Manassas Regional was renamed Washington Manassas Airport after a City Council vote in April. In August it received its FAA Part 139 operating certificate, the federal approval an airport needs before it can host scheduled airline service. For decades it has served general aviation only: private planes, flight schools and business jets.
Now the work is physical. According to Aviation Pros, Avports has cleared the east aircraft parking area and is demolishing an equipment storage building to make room for a new passenger building and expanded parking. The finished terminal is planned to include passenger gates, enclosed boarding bridges, ticketing and baggage areas, TSA screening space and seating.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the architect and Whiting-Turner is the general contractor. Avports is negotiating with possible airlines, including talks about service to Florida, but no carrier or route has been formally announced.
By the numbers: About $80 million for the new terminal, up from an earlier $50 million estimate. Passenger service is targeted for the end of 2027. (Sources: Aviation Pros and Potomac Local, October 14, 2026)
The control tower decision
The tower in use today is more than 80 years old. It is a 124-foot structure that was bought from a small Colorado airport and reassembled in Manassas in 1992, according to an Aviation Week report shared by Avports in June.
Airport staff recommended awarding Costello Construction a $29,314,862.50 contract for the replacement tower. The Airport Commission took it up on October 15, and Potomac Local reported on October 19 that the commission recommended the contract. The next stop is Manassas City Council for possible approval. Construction money is expected to come from federal and state sources plus airport reserves, though final funding approvals were still pending in the October 14 reports.
If you see both $29.3 million and $38 million in coverage, they describe different things. The $29.3 million figure is the construction contract. The roughly $38 million figure, given by Airport Director Juan Rivera in June, was a total project estimate that also covered design, construction management and demolition of the old tower. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $26 million in federal funding toward the tower in June.
By the numbers: $29.3 million recommended tower contract. About $38 million total project estimate from June. $26 million in announced federal funding. New tower projected to be finished in June 2029. (Sources: Potomac Local, Aviation Pros, Avports)
What has been said about timing
- End of 2027: target for the start of commercial passenger service, per Potomac Local. No airline has been named.
- 2027: rehabilitation of Runway 16L/34R and widening of Taxiway Bravo are expected to move into construction, per Aviation Pros.
- June 2029: projected completion of the new control tower.
These are targets from the operator and local reporting, not guarantees. The terminal budget has already grown once, and no airline has signed on publicly.
What it means for Manassas residents and buyers
For now, the practical effect is construction on airport property and a list of decisions still to come. Here is how I would think about it if you live in Manassas or are shopping there:
- Watch the City Council agenda. The tower contract and any related funding votes are public, and meeting packets usually include maps and schedules. You can find them on the City of Manassas website.
- Look at the specific location. If a home is near the airport, visit at different times of day and ask the seller what they have noticed. I do not have noise data to offer here, and I would not guess.
- Do not price in an airline that does not exist yet. Commercial service is a 2027 target with no announced carrier. Treat it as something to watch.
- Check the commute side too. My Manassas commute guide covers the VRE Manassas Line, I-66 and Route 28, and the Manassas development tracker follows the airport and other projects around the city.
If you are weighing a move, my Manassas page covers how the neighborhoods differ, and the city vs. county address guide explains why the exact jurisdiction of a property matters.
Sources and reporting limits
- Potomac Local, “Manassas Airport Terminal Work Begins; $29.3 Million Tower Contract Proposed,” October 14, 2026 (terminal work, contract amount, October 15 commission date, 2027 and 2029 targets).
- Potomac Local, “No airline named yet as Manassas Airport Commission recommends tower contract,” October 19, 2026 (commission recommendation).
- Aviation Pros, “Manassas Airport Begins Terminal Work as $29.3 Million Control Tower Decision Nears,” October 14, 2026 (terminal scope and cost, contractors, funding sources, runway and taxiway work, Part 139 certificate).
- Avports, “Washington Manassas Airport kicks off $38M tower project as commercial service nears,” June 18, 2026 (Aviation Week report: $38 million estimate, $26 million federal funding, history of the current tower).
Limits: The full October 19 Potomac Local story is for members only, so the commission’s recommendation comes from its published headline and summary. I could not find a City Council date for the tower vote. The reports do not cover noise, traffic or flight paths. Terminal and tower figures are estimates and may change. Check the airport and the City of Manassas for current information.
FAQ
Are airlines flying out of Manassas now?
No. The FAA certification in August allows scheduled service, but no airline has been announced and the terminal is still being built. The target is the end of 2027.
Is the new control tower approved?
Not yet. The Airport Commission recommended the $29.3 million Costello Construction contract after its October 15 meeting, and Manassas City Council still has to act on it.
Why do I see different cost numbers for the tower?
The $29.3 million figure is the recommended construction contract. The earlier $38 million estimate also covered design, construction management and demolition of the existing tower.
Will this change noise or traffic near the airport?
The coverage I found does not say. Flight activity, traffic and noise are fair questions to raise with the airport and the city if they matter to your decision.
Thinking about buying or selling in Manassas and want to talk through what is happening nearby? Reach out to Nikki.