United Airlines will begin a $5.4 million expansion of support space at Terminal C in Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on February 3, 2026, while a separate $2.55 billion redevelopment of Terminal B continues, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration and statements from the airline.
The Terminal C project, described in state records as the “Facilities Space Centralization Project,” will add about 17,000 square feet of new and renovated space and is scheduled for completion by mid-July 2026. The buildout focuses on back-of-house functions rather than passenger areas.
United said it is consolidating airport support teams in Terminal C to streamline operations.
“United Airlines is updating a space in Terminal C to bring its airport support teams together in one location,” a spokesperson told Chron in a written statement. “This will help the teams work more efficiently and safely, allowing faster response to maintenance needs and smoother day-to-day operations at the airport.”
According to the state filing, the Terminal C work will take place in the exterior lower ramp level storage area beneath the concourse. Plans call for:
- New office space for support staff
- New shop space for maintenance and related functions
- New restrooms
- A new breakroom
- New locker rooms
United has said the Terminal C project is not customer-facing and is not expected to affect passenger access, flight schedules or traffic patterns during construction. Work at Terminal C will run concurrently with the larger Terminal B program already underway.
United’s Terminal C expansion comes as the airline and the Houston Airport System continue a multi-year reconstruction and expansion of Terminal B, which United uses as a primary hub facility at IAH.
The Terminal B “Transformation” project, a $2.55 billion redevelopment, broke ground in 2024. In January 2025, the Terminal B lobby closed to the public for construction. Since then, travelers checking in for United flights that would typically use Terminal B have been directed to Terminal C, with access to gates B3–B31 via an above-ground skyway. Those gates remain in operation.
Key elements of the Terminal B project include:
- Doubling the size of the central processing facility used for ticketing, security screening and baggage claim
- Adding about 67,000 square feet of glass paneling across the terminal
- Expanding the 765,000-square-foot north concourse with 22 new gates
- Upgrading 18 existing gates in the south concourse with new passenger boarding bridges
After the expansion, United and airport officials project that Terminal B’s check-in and baggage halls will be able to handle up to 36 million passengers annually.
The United Club lounge in Terminal B also closed in January 2025 for reconstruction. When it reopens, United said the club will cover approximately 50,000 square feet, which would make it the largest club in the airline’s network.
The Houston Airport System has described the Terminal B work as one of the largest infrastructure projects in the city’s history. United and airport officials expect the main Terminal B renovations to be substantially complete by fall 2026.
“Construction on the Terminal B Transformation project is also progressing smoothly,” a United spokesperson said in comments to Chron. “United continues to work closely with the airport and partners to minimize disruption while supporting long-term improvements that enhance the overall airport experience.”
The Terminal C Facilities Space Centralization Project and the Terminal B Transformation are both part of a broader effort to modernize United’s hub operations at IAH and expand the airport’s capacity.
While Terminal B work has directly affected passenger movements—prompting lobby closures and rerouted check-in—the Terminal C project is designed to reorganize support functions, such as maintenance and ramp operations, within consolidated facilities under the concourse. United has indicated that the Terminal C construction footprint will remain behind the scenes and will not require major passenger detours.
Airport and airline officials have not yet released detailed construction phasing for the Terminal C project beyond the February start and mid-July target completion date. Additional permitting and interior buildout work will proceed under the oversight of the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration and the Houston Airport System.
