How smart upgrades are reshaping the future of Bush Airport

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is in a state of transformation—quietly trading orange cones for bold progress. In October 2019, airport leadership ceremoniously broke ground on the new Mickey Leland International Terminal. Construction started with demolishing the old IAH Terminal C North concourse and then the D/E Garage before the old IAH Terminal E Lobby closed in August 2021.

This year, with a record-breaking 1.74 million passengers traveling through Bush Airport during the 12-day Spring Break period from March 6 to March 17, Houston Airports recorded a 5% increase in passenger traffic in 2025 compared to 2024. And unlike in 2022, when local media widely reported long delays and bumper-to-bumper gridlock, there was no significant traffic buildup this year.

Spring break is the first major travel surge of the year, making it one of the airport system's most important operational tests.

Since Mayor John Whitmire Jim Szczesniak to serve as aviation director, Szczesniak has focused on fine-tuning a more user-friendly, passenger-first experience at Houston’s airports—an approach that appears to be paying off. Szczesniak has tasked Houston Airports with collecting data, including airport drive times, TSA wait times and the temperature of each terminal. The data is driving meaningful and measurable change.

In 2023, Houston Airports unveiled a modernized IAH Terminal D with new flooring, gate areas and sleek amenities.

The following year, the airport doubled down on its international appeal with the opening of Terminal D-West, a soaring new concourse featuring commissioned art installations, cutting-edge technology, six new gates and a local spin on an airport retail and dining experience.

That was just the beginning.

Ahead of Spring Break 2025, the first phase of the new IAH Terminal E Ticketing Lobby quietly opened to the public. Combined with new curbside lanes and expanded parking options, including a contactless system that uses license plate recognition, the updates seriously eased traffic congestion and helped move record numbers of passengers more efficiently through the airport.

Inside, Houston Airports is investing in comfort and inclusion. A second sensory room, designed for travelers with autism and sensory sensitivities, recently opened in Terminal D.

A dedicated ablution room—a first for the airport—now provides a private space for Muslim passengers to perform ritual washings before prayer.

A multi-million dollar restroom renovation project is underway across multiple terminals, reflecting a back-to-basics approach to hospitality that doesn’t overlook the importance of clean, modern amenities.

Houston Airports is building an airport that works for everyone—whether you're a first-time flyer or a frequent international traveler. That means listening, adapting and investing in the pieces of the journey that really matter to our passengers.

New culinary options like The Annie Café & Bar and The Kitchen in the expanded Terminal D have also elevated the dining experience, bringing local Houston flavors into the terminal while providing travelers with more upscale, sit-down options.

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This multi-phased reinvention—marketed under the Experience Change umbrella—has tested the patience of some travelers. Construction comes with growing pains, but for Houston Airports, this spring's record-breaking demand is validation.

It’s taken vision, grit and the support of our passengers. Standing where we are now, Houston Airports knows this transformation was worth it. And we’re not done yet.