Houston has opened a new 765,000-square-foot concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, adding 22 mainline aircraft gates as part of a $2.55 billion redevelopment of Terminal B that is replacing infrastructure dating back to 1969.
The three-level Terminal B North Concourse began serving passengers on October 22, marking a major construction milestone in the transformation of one of Houston’s busiest airport facilities. The development includes two passenger piers, expanded boarding areas, upgraded baggage-handling technology and a 54,000-square-foot United Club with seating for approximately 800 travelers.
The new concourse is the centerpiece of a wider program involving United Airlines and the Houston Airport System. STV, working alongside AvAirPros, managed program delivery and announced on October 27 that the transformation had been delivered under budget. The firm did not disclose the final cost or the amount saved against the original budget.
The redevelopment replaces Terminal B’s aging flight stations, which date to the airport’s opening in June 1969. The new North Concourse’s 22 gates are designed for narrow-body aircraft, providing larger boarding areas and jet bridges for every flight operating from the facility.
South Concourse
The South Concourse is also undergoing reconstruction to accommodate larger regional aircraft and improve passenger boarding arrangements. The wider program also includes a new central processor, with expanded ticketing, security screening and baggage-handling facilities, alongside improvements to airport roadways and passenger drop-off areas.
The opening does not yet mean the entire Terminal B redevelopment is operational. Passengers using the new North Concourse must still check in, drop their bags and clear security at Terminal C before transferring to their gates. United and Houston Airports have identified the Terminal B lobby as a later phase of the redevelopment.
Construction also continues on the South Concourse. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records identify a $67 million construction package covering approximately 216,110 square feet of Terminal B South. Its scope includes apron pavement, underground utilities, fueling systems, airfield striping, demolition of the middle pier and interior improvements. The registered completion date is July 2027.
The distinction is important because the North Concourse opening represents the delivery of a major component rather than the completion of every construction package associated with Terminal B.
Financing the airport transformation
The $2.55 billion program combines United’s investment in terminal facilities with infrastructure funding from the City of Houston.
Under the financing arrangement approved by the city, United committed more than $1.9 billion, while Houston agreed to provide $624 million for enabling infrastructure and related improvements. The city’s contribution covers work needed to support the redevelopment, including airport infrastructure beyond the airline’s terminal facilities.
The city expects to recover its contribution over time through airport rates and charges paid by airlines and other airport operators rather than relying on general taxpayer funding.
The financing story has continued alongside construction. On October 13, Bloomberg Law reported that Houston was considering an $800 million municipal bond sale on behalf of United to finance remaining costs associated with the Terminal B project. The proposed transaction adds another layer to the project’s funding structure as the redevelopment moves through its remaining construction phases.
The bond financing should not be confused with evidence of a cost overrun. STV has described the program as delivered under budget, while the bond proposal concerns financing remaining project costs. The final funding and expenditure figures have not been publicly established in the available announcements.
Expanding United’s Houston hub
The additional gates are intended to give United more flexibility to accommodate its expanding operations at IAH.
United operates approximately 500 daily departures from Houston and scheduled nearly 17 million annual seats through the airport in 2026. The airline also serves 65 international destinations from IAH, including 57 across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The new concourse provides additional mainline capacity, while the South Concourse improvements are intended to accommodate larger two-class regional aircraft. Together, these changes are designed to improve the movement of passengers between regional and mainline flights and give the airline more flexibility to add seats where demand is strongest.
United says the Terminal B transformation increases the number of customers able to fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared with 2023. The airline is also adding international destinations from Houston, reinforcing the airport’s role as an important gateway between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The new facilities also address bottlenecks beyond aircraft boarding. The central processor project includes a 222,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of approximately 218,000 square feet of existing facilities. Its scope includes a new ticketing hall, baggage claim, baggage-handling system and security checkpoint. The project is designed to accommodate an expected 36 million passengers in the future.
Construction and design teams
The redevelopment involves several construction and design firms working across different parts of the terminal.
Clark Construction is delivering the central processor, a 525,000-square-foot project that combines a new addition with renovations to the existing terminal. Page and Grimshaw serve as the designers for that component.
PGAL leads architectural services, interior design, civil engineering and planning for the North Concourse, while Manhattan Construction is responsible for major concourse construction. Siemens Logistics is involved in the baggage-handling system.
STV and AvAirPros have led program management and coordination across the wider redevelopment, with the airport remaining operational during construction.
The North Concourse also incorporates a sustainability program. United says the facility is pursuing LEED Gold certification, with design targets including a projected 29% reduction in energy costs and more than 35% lower indoor water consumption. These figures are projected performance targets rather than verified operating savings.
The new concourse also includes infrastructure for electric ground-support equipment, including 91 charging stations, electric ground power units and pre-conditioned air systems.
With the North Concourse now receiving passengers, Houston has delivered a major part of its effort to replace Terminal B’s aging infrastructure. The remaining processor and South Concourse work will determine when the wider redevelopment can function as an integrated terminal, from passenger drop-off and check-in through security screening and aircraft boarding.
Part of a wider wave of airport infrastructure investments
Houston’s Terminal B redevelopment is part of a wider wave of airport infrastructure investment taking place across the United States. In Southern California, Hollywood Burbank Airport opened its new $1.3 billion replacement passenger terminal on October 13, delivering a 355,000-square-foot facility designed to replace its aging 1930s-era terminals. Unlike Houston, where the Terminal B transformation adds 22 mainline gates, Burbank retained its existing 14-gate configuration, focusing instead on passenger facilities, airport safety and operational improvements. The two projects illustrate different approaches to modernizing airport infrastructure as passenger facilities adapt to changing aviation requirements.
Terminal B Transformation: Project Factsheet
- Location: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas
- Total program investment: Approximately $2.55 billion
- New facility: Terminal B North Concourse
- North Concourse size: 765,000 square feet
- North Concourse configuration: Three levels, two piers
- New gates: 22 mainline gates
- United Club: 54,000 square feet, approximately 800 seats
- Original terminal opening: June 1969
- Airline: United Airlines
- Airport owner/operator: City of Houston / Houston Airport System
- Program management: STV and AvAirPros
- North Concourse architect: PGAL
- Central processor contractor: Clark Construction
- Concourse construction: Manhattan Construction
- Central processor designers: Page and Grimshaw
- Baggage-handling system: Siemens Logistics
- North Concourse opening: October 22, 2026
- South Concourse construction package: $67 million, scheduled completion July 2027
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