United Airlines on Thursday is opening the new 22-gate Terminal B North Concourse at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which the carrier said will help it expand its network from its Houston hub.
The 765,000-sq.-ft. concourse, an overhaul of facilities dating back to 1969, is part of a $2.6 billion transformation program for IAH's Terminal B. Along with improvements to the terminal's South Concourse, United will have 48 gates in the terminal, which boosts passenger capacity on peak travel dates by 40 percent compared with 2023.
The North Concourse gates all use jet bridges and can accommodate larger aircraft, with the South Concourse reconfiguration allowing use of more two-class regional aircraft. In particular, the additional capacity will boost United's ability to grow its network to Latin America, with nonstop service to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; and Caracas, Venezuela, slated to start in the coming months.
The North Concourse also features a 54,000-sq.-ft. United Club, which the carrier said is the largest airline club across the Americas. The club seats 800 travelers and includes a terrace, two full-service bars, two buffet stations and 11 private phone rooms.
"Our vision is to be a five-star local air service gateway, a source of pride for Houstonians and the actively preferred connecting point for travelers," Houston Airport System director of aviation Jim Szczesniak said during a preview ceremony for the concourse on Wednesday. "I think this facility hit the mark."
Other terminal features include dining from both such Houston brands such Blood Bros. BBQ and Blue Bell Creameries as well as national brands including Raising Cane's, Jersey Mike's and Starbucks. The terminal also includes a sensory room for travelers with autism and sensory sensitivities, according to United.
United currently serves 65 international destinations from IAH, and the carrier is growing its domestic network from the hub as well. Local officials at the ceremony noted the new concourse's importance to the city's business community.
"Houston is growing," U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, said during the ceremony. "We need an airport that can keep up with that growth and help our city remain competitive for years to come."