USA. United Airlines has unveiled an expansive commercial and hospitality offer at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal B North Concourse in Houston, embracing more than 105,000sq ft of retail and concessions space.
The project also houses a 54,000sq ft United Club lounge – claimed to be the largest airline lounge in the Americas – and a US$16.8 million public art programme.
The three-level, 765,000sq ft facility opened to passengers on Thursday (22 October), forming the centrepiece of United’s wider US$2.6 billion Terminal B Transformation Programme.
The commercial line-up places strong emphasis on Houston’s culinary heritage, combining established local restaurant names with national food & beverage brands, alongside duty-free, speciality retail and wellness services.
Among the Houston-based concepts are B&B Butchers & Restaurant, Rosie Cannonball, Pizaro’s Pizza, Blood Bros. BBQ, Katz Coffee and Blue Bell Creameries.
The national F&B offer includes Starbucks, Raising Cane’s, Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s, Smashburger, Jamba, Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon and Protein Bar & Kitchen.
In retail and services, Be Relax Spa offers massages, nail treatments and facials, complementing what United describes as high-end duty-free and speciality retail stores.
United also plans to introduce an airport food ordering and delivery service through its app later this year.
Eligible passengers will be able to order food, beverages and selected travel essentials from participating outlets for collection near their departure gate or delivery directly to them.
Landmark lounge investment
A key feature of the redevelopment is the new 54,000sq ft United Club.
Located on the mezzanine level, the lounge accommodates 800 guests and features a 1,350sq ft outdoor terrace offering panoramic views across the airfield.
The hospitality offer includes two full-service bars and two buffet stations, alongside 11 private phone rooms, high-speed wifi and power outlets throughout.
An airport as an artport
The lounge design draws on Houston’s cityscape, bayou landscape, aerospace heritage and cultural diversity, with a curated art collection predominantly featuring Texas-based artists (see below). This includes photography by a San Antonio-based United employee.
The opening further expands United’s premium hospitality footprint at George Bush Airport, following the February 2025 debut of United Club Fly in Terminal B South.
That concept caters to passengers seeking a faster lounge experience, with self-scan entry and a grab-and-go selection of fresh food, snacks, beverages and barista-prepared coffee.
United now operates seven club and lounge locations across the Houston hub, including United Club Fly and the United Polaris lounge.
The new concourse also features the largest public art investment undertaken at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with US$16.8 million allocated to a programme of ten major installations.
The works, selected from almost 150 submissions from Houston, elsewhere in the USA and Europe, reflect the city’s bayou ecosystem, cultural diversity, history and innovation.
Among the highlights is The Digital Bayou, comprising three immersive digital art experiences created by multimedia studio Moment Factory.
The collection also features a new commission from internationally recognised Houston artist Rick Lowe and reimagined mosaic murals by local artist Dixie Friend Gay.
Sculptural installations by Karen Navarro, Shavon Aja Morris, Rachel Hecker, Matthew Mazzotta and Edra Soto are integrated throughout the terminal.
The artworks extend across public areas, concourses and baggage claim, positioning the programme, United Airlines said, as an integral part of the airport environment rather than a standalone cultural attraction.
Beyond the art and commercial spaces, the concourse includes a dedicated sensory room for travellers with autism and sensory sensitivities, alongside a children’s play area and expanded seating facilities.
Wider transformation at Houston hub
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said: “I want our customers to start their vacation the minute they show up at the airport and Terminal B North sets a new standard for facilities across the country.
“Houston is a great example of our focus on the overall customer experience – yes, we’re investing in new aircraft, products and technology here, but we’re also focused on improving the infrastructure, building new concourses, baggage systems and training and maintenance facilities for our employees.”
The new North Concourse includes 22 mainline aircraft gates and replaces facilities dating back to 1969.
Together with improvements to Terminal B South, the redevelopment provides United with 48 gates across Terminal B.
The airline, which operates more than 500 daily departures from Houston, has invested over US$3.5 billion at George Bush Intercontinental Airport since 2015.
The airport is a key gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, with United serving 57 destinations across the two regions from Houston.
Its domestic schedule for 2026 is the largest in more than a decade, with nearly 17 million annual seats. ✈
 The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes Airport Hospitality World, the latest edition to our wide-ranging, market-leading travel retail and airport non-aeronautical revenues publishing and event portfolio. Airport Hospitality World covers all forms of airport lounges across international and domestic terminals, including various definitions as follows:
Plus other hospitality-related platforms:
Excitingly, the long-established Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards will embrace Airport Hospitality World from the 2026 edition – the event’s 15th anniversary. |
