United Airlines has flipped the switch on its new Terminal B North Concourse at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, opening Oct. 22 as the centrepiece of a $2.6 billion overhaul. Why should Caribbean travellers care? Because Houston is United's single biggest gateway to the region — the airline flies to 57 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean from the city, more than from any of its other hubs, including routes no other US airline serves.
The new concourse is serious infrastructure: three levels, 765,000 square feet and 22 gates built for mainline narrow-body aircraft, every one with a jet bridge so no more outdoor boarding. It replaces terminals dating back to 1969. Alongside the upgraded South Concourse (26 more gates), United will run 48 gates in Terminal B and expects to handle 40 percent more passengers at peak times in 2026 than it did in 2023. More capacity means bigger aircraft and more seats on popular routes.
The headline amenity is a 54,000-square-foot United Club — the largest airline lounge in the Americas — with space for 800 guests, panoramic airfield views, two bars, two buffets, 11 private phone rooms and, unusually, a 1,350-square-foot outdoor terrace. That's a meaningful upgrade if you're on a long layover between a domestic hop and an island flight. It's one of seven United lounges at the airport, including the Polaris lounge.
The food and extras lean local: B&B Butchers, Rosie Cannonball, Pizaro's Pizza, Blood Bros. BBQ, Katz Coffee and Blue Bell ice cream, plus a Be Relax Spa, a children's play area and a sensory room. A $16.8 million public art programme adds 10 installations themed on Houston's history and bayous, and in-app food ordering arrives later this year.
The Caribbean payoff is already rolling out. United launches four-times-weekly nonstops from Houston to Cartagena, Colombia on Dec. 17, giving travellers from more than 70 US cities one-stop access. That sits alongside recent additions such as new Belize flights, expanded Dominica service and extra holiday flights to Barbados, with Houston–Caracas planned for January pending government approval. United has now put more than $3.5 billion into Houston's airports since 2015.
For anyone in a smaller or midsize US city, this is the real story: Houston is becoming a genuinely viable alternative to Miami and Fort Lauderdale for reaching the Caribbean, with more connections, roomier gates and a lounge worth arriving early for. This piece is based on reporting by Caribbean Journal.
