Houston Intercontinental Opens Six New International Gates
The new “west pier” adds 160,000 ft.2 to Terminal D, bringing the terminal’s total size to nearly 500,000 ft.2 The gates are designed to accommodate widebody aircraft and are expected to service international flights.
Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) opened six new gates Oct. 22, part of an expansion of its Terminal D.
The new “west pier” adds 160,000 ft.2 to Terminal D, bringing the terminal’s total size to nearly 500,000 ft.2 The gates are designed to accommodate widebody aircraft and are expected to service international flights.
The first carrier to use the new gates was Avianca Airlines, which operated an Oct. 22 flight to IAH from San Salvador, El Salvador.
IAH said the new Terminal D pier includes “design features like a copper-colored ceiling inspired by Houston’s live oak trees, a 380-ft. LED wall and comfortable seating equipped with cup holders and modern charging ports.”
Sixteen new retail and dining concessions were opened along with the new gates.
The project to expand Terminal D started in November 2019. It is part of a larger $1.5 billion renovation of the terminal to accommodate international traffic growth. The next component of the program will be an “international central processor” facility, which will open in two phases in 2025 and include revamped ticketing and baggage claim areas in Terminal D, as well as "one of the largest security checkpoints in the country, positioning Bush Airport for future international growth,” IAH said in a statement.
United Airlines, which has a hub at IAH, is leading a $2.5 billion upgrade of Terminal B, investing around $1.9 billion in that project by backing bonds issued by the city of Houston.
