Airports always feel like madness, but they’ve been even more frustrating in Houston with the ongoing construction at George Bush Intercontinental Airport over the years. If you’ve traveled internationally any time since the start of 2022, you know all too well the cramped chaotic nightmare it’s been to wait for your ride home.

In December 2024, Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System (HAS), called the temporary Terminal E arrivals curb the “bane of our existence” (glad he’s with us on that one). Thankfully, IAH is well on its way to completion. At the end of last year, the airport officially announced the opening of the new international arrivals curb.

The renovations are part of IAH’s nearly $1.5 billion terminal redevelopment program, which is the largest expansion project in the airport’s history. With the new arrivals curb, there are now eight dedicated pickup lanes—six opened in December and two are opening this month.

The curb will also have HAS landside agents and law enforcement onsite to help direct drivers, and lanes will have dedicated sections for private cars, taxis, and rideshares. HAS states these lanes will expand capacity and prioritize safety and efficiency.

During his State of the Airports address in 2024, Szczesniak gave an update on what passengers should expect this year. Along with the eight new lanes, a second phase will be unveiled for 11 upper lanes that will be used for passenger drop-offs and commercial vehicles such as hotel shuttles, rental car shuttles, taxis, and rideshares. Upon completion, an estimated 40,000 vehicles will pass through the new international terminal every day—or about 28 cars per minute. How insane is that?

The opening of the lanes coincides with the new international central processor (ICP) facility, which will feature consolidated ticketing, security lines, and baggage claim. As part of the first phase, United Airlines will be permanently moving into the new international building by the end of February and will begin using the new ICP for its Terminal E check-in operations. This will help alleviate traffic in Terminal C’s lobby, security lines, and drop-off curbs. This summer, the second phase will officially open with the unveiling of a 17-lane TSA checkpoint—HAS notes that once completed, it will be one of the largest security checkpoints in the country.

The goal is to support anticipated growth over the next decade, while also keeping TSA wait times to a 22-minute maximum. Plus, with the technology being installed, you’ll no longer have to deal with the hassle of removing your tablets and laptops while going through security.

If you traveled over last holiday season, you may have noticed other modernization efforts already in effect. In October 2024, IAH unveiled the 160,000-square-foot expansion of the Terminal D-West pier. This new portion includes six gates—which helps meet growing travel demand from both passengers and airlines—as well as new seating with cup holders, charging ports, a mother’s room, a companion care changing room, a sensory room, and restrooms with smart technology.

Although this expansion helps travelers, HAS notes that it’s also a boost to Houston’s economy—and adds even more food offerings at IAH. Travelers going through this terminal can choose from places like Velvet Taco, the Annie, and Jamba Juice. Overall, the space will hold 16 concession concepts, creating 250 new jobs.

“These enhancements streamline traffic flow and provide more terminal capacity, reducing congestion and creating a more efficient and welcoming experience for our passengers,” Szczesniak says. “It’s another step forward in our commitment to delivering world-class, Houston-friendly service.”

Unfortunately, the construction at IAH will still be ongoing into 2026. A separate $2.5 billion project spearheaded by United Airlines will completely revamp Terminal B North, which first opened in 1969—safe to say it's time for a facelift.

The terminal will span approximately 765,000 square feet, with three levels total. The transformation includes expanded curbside and roadway capacity, an expanded ticketing lobby, better wayfinding systems, a ground-level check-in area, a streamlined security processing area, and the ability to house 22 gates for narrow-body aircraft. United Airlines will close Terminal B this month for construction, but once completed, it will be able to process a whopping 36 million passengers annually.

The end is near, and we can’t wait for IAH’s ongoing construction to be a thing of the past.