Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

From the upper level of the new Terminal B Central Processor at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), sunlight now floods through newly installed curtainwall glass, opening views across an active construction site filled with cranes and crews at work. The progress is clear — and visible.The curtainwall installation marks a major milestone in the Terminal B Transformation Project; a collaboration between United Airlines and Houston Airports to reimagine one of the airport’s original terminals. When it opens in 2026, Terminal B will look and function entirely differently from the facility built more than half a century ago.Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak recently joined United leaders for a tour of the site and said the momentum speaks for itself. “That view says it all,” he said, watching crews secure glass panels several stories high. “Every pane of glass represents progress for Houston and the passengers who will experience a modernized terminal built for decades ahead.”Across the project footprint, transformation is visible in every direction. Structural steel defines new concourses, and crews are actively installing mechanical systems, flooring and interior finishes that will bring the vision to life.Designed around intuitive passenger movement and inspired by Houston, the new Terminal B North Concourse will span approximately 765,000 square feet across three levels, replacing the original 1969-era flight stations with two new passenger concourses. Inside, 22 gates will serve United’s growing fleet as part of the airline’s United NEXT initiative. A 54,000-square-foot United Club at the mezzanine level will offer panoramic airfield views — the largest in United’s system — along with new amenities focused on comfort and accessibility.Travelers will also find inclusive spaces such as a Sensory Room for passengers with hidden disabilities, a United-branded interactive park that combines art and technology, and quiet zones for relaxation. Two new concessions hubs will offer more than 115,000 square feet of dining and retail space supported by advanced food service technology. Beneath it all, an upgraded baggage handling system will move thousands of bags with precision using advanced tracking tools.The Terminal B South concourse will modernize 18 E175 gates, replacing older layouts with upgraded hold rooms designed around United’s “gate of the future” standards. Each improvement focuses on making the passenger journey smoother from curb to cabin.At the heart of the project is the Central Processor — the architectural centerpiece of the transformation. The expansion and renovation, totaling more than 440,000 square feet, will support future growth to 36 million passengers annually. The redesigned space includes a new baggage claim hall, modern ticketing lobby, expanded security checkpoint and enhanced airline and airport support areas. The design simplifies every step of the journey, with a streamlined third-floor security checkpoint, direct connections to concessions and concourses, and improved roadway flow with expanded curbsides, updated signage and intuitive wayfinding.“This transformation is about more than infrastructure,” Szczesniak said. “It’s about creating a passenger experience that feels distinctly Houston and is built for the future.”The $2.5 billion Terminal B Transformation is one of the most significant airport projects in the country, representing years of collaboration between United Airlines, Houston Airports and the design and construction teams shaping the next generation of travel in Houston.And now, as sunlight pours through the new glass façade and the terminal begins to take its shape, that future is visible.Completion is scheduled for fall 2026.LEARN MORE | IAH TERMINAL B TRANSFORMATION

Official FIFA World Cup 26 merchandise has arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), giving travelers an early glimpse of the global celebration already taking shape in Houston.Shirts and hoodies featuring the tri-nation logo—CAN MEX USA—ar now on sale at Houston’s airports. This marks the first phase of a retail rollout designed to build excitement as Houston prepares to host seven World Cup matches in 2026.The gear, produced in partnership with Adidas and FIFA, features bold designs and multilingual nods to the world’s most popular sport—football, soccer, fútbol. The limited-edition items serve as a preview of what’s to come, from expanded retail offerings to terminal-wide activations.RELATED | Houston Airports launches marketing campaign for soccer fansThe new merchandise follows the August launch of a bold marketing campaign by Houston Airports designed for soccer fans traveling through the gateway to the planet’s biggest sporting event. Window clings and posters inside IAH Terminals A and D feature vibrant, soccer-inspired artwork with the message: “Wherever fútbol happens, it’s nonstop from Houston.” Each display includes a QR code linking travelers to Fly2Houston.com, where an interactive map highlights nonstop flight options from Houston to every tournament host city.Houston is among the few tournament host cities with nonstop flights to all others—most within a three-hour journey—positioning Houston as the hub for 2026 tournament travel.Houston Airports is preparing for tens of thousands of visitors by completing major infrastructure upgrades ahead of the tournament. These include the new Terminal D-West Pier, a modernized Terminal E ticketing lobby, expanded TSA checkpoints and expedited international processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.Houston Airports is coordinating with METRO Houston and private transportation partners will ensure smooth travel for visitors moving between airports, hotels and stadiums. The city will learn which national teams it will host when FIFA announces match assignments on December 5. Until then, the official merchandise serves as both a souvenir and a signal—Houston is ready to welcome the world, and the journey begins the moment fans land at the airport.

Every October 15, White Cane Day recognizes the independence and achievements of people who are blind or have low vision. The white cane represents both freedom and safety—a tool that enables navigation and a symbol that calls for greater public awareness and inclusion.At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston Airports works every day to ensure that passengers who are blind or have low vision can travel confidently and independently. A series of assistive technologies and programs are in place across both airports to provide meaningful support from curb to gate.AIRA assistanceThrough a partnership with AIRA, travelers who are blind or have low vision can access immediate video navigation assistance directly from their cell phones. AIRA connects users to trained agents who help them navigate the terminal environment in real time. The service is provided at no cost within all terminals at IAH and HOU.Accessible websitesHouston Airports’ websites feature two assistive technologies—ReciteMe and AccessiBe—that make digital navigation accessible and intuitive.• ReciteMe enables screen reading, page summarization, magnification, and dictionary tools. It also provides a screen mask for focus and closed-caption reading for videos.• AccessiBe ensures that all web content meets color and contrast standards for low-vision users and includes audio descriptions for images and videos. Its Vision Impaired and Blind User Profiles offer customized adjustments for individuals with tunnel vision, glaucoma, cataracts, or degraded eyesight.TTY and service supportTTY phone assistance is available for travelers at both airports through the Airport Operations Center. Blind or low-vision passengers can request help at any information desk or from roving customer service representatives wearing orange shirts.Service animal relief areas are located in every terminal to support passengers traveling with guide dogs or other service animals. Houston Airports also offers airport familiarization tours for blind and low-vision passengers—an opportunity to experience terminal layouts and amenities before the day of travel.Identification and trainingAs part of Houston Airports’ Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Program, passengers who are blind or have low vision can choose to wear a sunflower lanyard. The lanyard signals to airport staff that the traveler may need additional time or assistance.White Cane Day reminds us that accessibility is not a feature, it’s a standard. Houston Airports remains committed to building an inclusive, world-class travel experience for every passenger.