United opens new concourse at George Bush Intercontinental

United Airlines has opened its new Terminal B North Concourse in Houston, featuring 22 gates, an expansive United Club, advanced baggage technology and enhanced amenities as part of a $2.6 billion terminal transformation.

Summary:

United Airlines has opened its new Terminal B North Concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, featuring 22 mainline gates across a 765,000-square-foot facility as part of a wider $2.6 billion Terminal B transformation.
The new concourse features a 54,000-square-foot United Club with seating for 800, local dining and retail options, 10 art installations and a dedicated sensory room, enhancing passenger comfort and the airport experience.
Operational improvements include jet bridges for every United flight departing from the North Concourse, advanced baggage tracking technology and expanded roadway capacity. The wider transformation is designed to increase the number of customers able to fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared with 2023.

United Airlines has opened its new Terminal B North Concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a three-level, 765,000 square-foot, 22 mainline gate facility. Terminal B North also includes a huge, 54,000 sq ft United Club, with seating for 800 people, an outdoor terrace and panoramic views of the airfield.

The terminal design creates a sense of openness with soaring ceilings, expansive gathering spaces and sweeping airfield views and the public spaces feature 10 different art installations inspired by Houston’s bayous, cultural diversity, innovation and global connections, as well as a dedicated sensory room for travellers.

“I want our customers to start their vacation the minute they show up at the airport and Terminal B North sets a new standard for facilities across the country,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. “Houston is great example of our focus on the overall customer experience – yes, we’re investing in new aircraft, products and technology here, but we’re also focused on improving the infrastructure, building new concourses, baggage systems and training and maintenance facilities for our employees.”

Travellers will find new retail, concession and restaurant options, including Houston favourites like B&B Butchers & Restaurant, Rosie Cannonball, Pizaro’s Pizza, Blood Bros. BBQ, Katz Coffee and Blue Bell Creameries.

The new concourse, replacing facilities dating back to 1969, is the centrepiece of United’s broader $2.6 billion Terminal B Transformation Program. Together with improvements to the Terminal B South Concourse, United will have 48 gates in Terminal B. Every United flight operating from the Terminal B North Concourse will board through a jet bridge, delivering more convenience to travellers. The transformation also increases the overall number of customers who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared to 2023, while building on United’s broader investment in Houston facilities and employees.

The new Terminal B is engineered to accommodate United’s growing fleet and support a seamless customer journey. Key infrastructure highlights include:

22 new mainline gates in the North Concourse: The gates are designed for narrow-body aircraft and provide larger seating and boarding areas.
26 gates in the South Concourse: Upgrades to the Terminal B South Concourse include accommodations for larger regional aircraft, additional jet bridge access, and other customer-focused enhancements
Jet bridges for every United flight in North Concourse: All United flights operating from Terminal B North use jet bridges, providing a climate-controlled connection between the terminal and aircraft.
Advanced baggage technology: A new baggage handling system includes tracking technology designed to support the terminal’s increased capacity.
Expanded airport access: Includes additional curbside and roadway capacity, a ground-level check-in area and a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A.