Roadway construction at George Bush Intercontinental Airport continues to carve out a path forward for the $1.3 billion IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program, ITRP. Starting August 2, construction will begin at Terminal E to make way for the new international terminal. Houston Airports is working to ensure impacts are minimized to passengers. The passenger’s experience is at the forefront of all of our planning.  

Starting August 2, 2021: 

• Terminal E departing passengers must now check in at either Terminals B, C or D. United Airlines will provide passengers with the appropriate terminal check-in location and further instructions. 

• Terminal E arriving international passengers will not experience any impacts until August 16. 

Starting August 16, 2021: 

• The subway train (ITT) will not be accessible from Terminal E via elevators. The subway train will be accessible via escalators. 

• Terminal transfer options will be made available for passengers with disabilities and overburdened passengers. 

• ecopark shuttle transfers will no longer be available at Terminal E. All ecopark customers must go to Terminal C or D to access an ecopark shuttle. 

Furthermore, in August construction will include: 

• Installation of foundations for the D West pier along with underground utilities for the pier will continue 

• Ongoing structural demolition of the D/E garage 

Steven Andersen, Executive Program Manager of the ITRP, reiterated that the end results will be worth it. 

“We are moving forward in a careful and deliberate fashion as we deliver a facility that is modern and efficient and will rank among the best in the world,” Andersen said. “We want the passenger to have even greater comfort and greater control of their journey, from simple, intuitive wayfinding all the way through boarding their plane and beyond.” 

Houston Airports has been very proactive in publicizing the changes during this period of unprecedented growth and development. An updated homepage alert on fly2houston.com is now live and provides important information and tips for travelers.

Roadway construction will continue on North and South Terminal Roads. Crews are working with Centerpoint to install or re-work utilities associated with ITRP. This means lanes will be reduced to traffic that approaches Terminals C, D and E. Passengers are encouraged to build an extra hour into their trip time and follow the signage. 

Effects from the global coronavirus pandemic continue to reverberate across the airline industry. However, each month more and more passengers again take to the skies, and Houston Airports’ passengers numbers continue to rise. 

“The transformation of Bush Airport exemplifies Houston Airports’ commitment to delivering 21st-century infrastructure to our region,” Chief Infrastructure Officer Jarrett Simmons said. 

Simmons said that ITRP and other capital improvement projects ongoing or on the horizon within Houston Airports will play a critical role in Houston’s economic recovery from the pandemic’s devastating toll as well as spur job creation. He also praised the role of United Airlines and the foreign flag carriers at Bush for their key roles in the program’s continued advancement. 

“Our partners have been key in this endeavor, and we appreciate and applaud their investment in the future of air travel,” Simmons said. “Houston is a top-ranked international gateway to the United States and these upgrades and improvements are essential for us to achieve 5-star status. Stellar customer service is key in celebrating the magic of flight.” 

Once complete, the new international terminal will feature a modernized ticketing and arrivals hall and will fully support post-pandemic growth in international traffic at the airport, address capacity constraints in the central terminal area, and improve baggage handling system capacity and reliability challenges. Additional international gates will accommodate continued airline growth.