George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s development is nearing an finish.
Airports at all times really feel like insanity, however they’ve been much more irritating in Houston with the continued development at George Bush Intercontinental Airport over time. In case you’ve traveled internationally any time because the begin of 2022, you realize all too properly the cramped chaotic nightmare it’s been to attend in your journey house.
In December 2024, Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System (HAS), referred to as the short-term Terminal E arrivals curb the “bane of our existence” (glad he’s with us on that one). Fortunately, IAH is properly on its solution to completion. On the finish of final 12 months, the airport formally introduced the opening of the brand new worldwide arrivals curb.
The renovations are a part of IAH’s practically $1.5 billion terminal redevelopment program, which is the most important enlargement venture within the airport’s historical past. With the brand new arrivals curb, there are actually eight devoted pickup lanes—six opened in December and two are opening this month.
The curb will even have HAS landside brokers and regulation enforcement onsite to assist direct drivers, and lanes may have devoted sections for personal automobiles, taxis, and rideshares. HAS states these lanes will develop capability and prioritize security and effectivity.
Throughout his State of the Airports handle in 2024, Szczesniak gave an replace on what passengers ought to anticipate this 12 months. Together with the eight new lanes, a second part will likely be unveiled for 11 higher lanes that will likely be used for passenger drop-offs and industrial automobiles akin to resort shuttles, rental automobile shuttles, taxis, and rideshares. Upon completion, an estimated 40,000 automobiles will go via the brand new worldwide terminal daily—or about 28 automobiles per minute. How insane is that?
The opening of the lanes coincides with the brand new worldwide central processor (ICP) facility, which is able to function consolidated ticketing, safety strains, and baggage declare. As a part of the primary part, United Airways will likely be completely transferring into the brand new worldwide constructing by the top of February and can start utilizing the brand new ICP for its Terminal E check-in operations. This may assist alleviate site visitors in Terminal C’s foyer, safety strains, and drop-off curbs. This summer season, the second part will formally open with the revealing of a 17-lane TSA checkpoint—HAS notes that after accomplished, will probably be one of many largest safety checkpoints within the nation.
The objective is to assist anticipated progress over the following decade, whereas additionally conserving TSA wait instances to a 22-minute most. Plus, with the expertise being put in, you’ll now not need to cope with the trouble of eradicating your tablets and laptops whereas going via safety.
In case you traveled over final vacation season, you could have seen different modernization efforts already in impact. In October 2024, IAH unveiled the 160,000-square-foot enlargement of the Terminal D-West pier. This new portion contains six gates—which helps meet rising journey demand from each passengers and airways—in addition to new seating with cup holders, charging ports, a mom’s room, a companion care altering room, a sensory room, and restrooms with good expertise.
Though this enlargement helps vacationers, HAS notes that it’s additionally a lift to Houston’s economic system—and provides much more meals choices at IAH. Vacationers going via this terminal can select from locations like Velvet Taco, the Annie, and Jamba Juice. General, the house will maintain 16 concession ideas, creating 250 new jobs.
“These enhancements streamline site visitors circulation and supply extra terminal capability, decreasing congestion and making a extra environment friendly and welcoming expertise for our passengers,” Szczesniak says. “It’s one other step ahead in our dedication to delivering world-class, Houston-friendly service.”
Sadly, the development at IAH will nonetheless be ongoing into 2026. A separate $2.5 billion venture spearheaded by United Airways will utterly revamp Terminal B North, which first opened in 1969—secure to say it is time for a facelift.
The terminal will span roughly 765,000 sq. toes, with three ranges whole. The transformation contains expanded curbside and roadway capability, an expanded ticketing foyer, higher wayfinding programs, a ground-level check-in space, a streamlined safety processing space, and the flexibility to deal with 22 gates for narrow-body plane. United Airways will shut Terminal B this month for development, however as soon as accomplished, will probably be in a position to course of a whopping 36 million passengers yearly.
The tip is close to, and we are able to’t look ahead to IAH’s ongoing development to be a factor of the previous.
