United Expands in Houston with $2.6B Terminal Project, State-of-the-Art Baggage System, New Club and Thousands of New Jobs
Imagine securing a 6-figure or more government contract with the department of transportation at the airport. When I see economic growth like this, I see economic opportunities.
Quick Overview of what’s to come for United at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport:
Terminal B investments include expansion of 40 gates for larger aircraft, allowing for 40% more people to fly from George Bush Intercontinental Airport
New United Club will be the largest in the nation and Early Bag Storage facility is only one of its kind in North America
Airline expects to create 1,500 United positions in Houston next year and another 4,000 construction-related jobs throughout the project
CEO Scott Kirby on hand to celebrate overall growth in Houston as well as new direct flight to Georgetown, Guyana*, and the airline's new Airbus A321neo
United announced growth plans in Houston that include a $2.6 billion renovation and expansion of Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a new United ClubSM location and Early Bag Storage facility (EBS) as well as a new direct flight to Georgetown, Guyana*.
These investments are part of the airline's United Next growth plan and include the expansion of 40 gates at IAH to accommodate larger aircraft, resulting in a 40% increase in the overall number of people who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 compared to 2023.
United is the largest airline in Houston, with more than 14,000 employees and 400 daily departures – the airline hired more than 2,100 people locally in 2023 and expects to add another 1,500 in 2024. This expansion is also expected to create an additional 4,000 construction jobs. According to a recent study by Compass Lexecon, United's direct employment in Houston contributes to more than $1.2 billion in economic activity annually. Including the Terminal B project, United has invested more than $3.5 billion in its Houstonfacilities since 2015.
United CEO Scott Kirby will be joined by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other officials to celebrate the expansion and show off the airline's new Airbus A321neo, which takes its inaugural flight from Houston today and is one of 800 new planes set to join United's fleet between 2023 and 2032.
"United Next is about new investments that improve the customer experience and building careers for the next generation of aviation professionals – and all those things and more are coming to life here in Houston," said Kirby.
Terminal B Expansion, Project Hights and more.
