IAH redevelopment project to be completed in 2024: 'We're doing the best we can to minimize impact'

The Houston Airport System has its eyes set on 2024 as they race to complete a terminal redevelopment to increase passenger and staff efficiency throughout the airport.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the program has been in development since 2014, with the final designs and scope of the project recently competed two years ago.

“The reason for the program is to provide additional international capacity," ITRP Executive Program Manager Steven Anderson said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "Over the past few years, we’ve experienced large international airline growth which is great for Houston. And so to respond to that, a program was developed to expand our international gating capacity.”

Refurnishing Terminal D, constructing a new pier and a new processing facility are several projects to be completed in the project. The processing facility will feature a new Mickey Leland International Departures Hall, which includes ticketing facilities and automation systems. A self-bag drop will allow passengers to place their luggage in a machine to be weighed, scanned and registered without having to go through a ticketing or bag agent. New checkpoints with updated equipment will also be added to the processing facility, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“In the aviation industry, we try to understand passenger stress levels and manage it effectively,” Andersen told the Houston Chronicle. “So what we’re trying to do is create big open spaces that feel nice to be in.”

Offering the best experience for passengers isn't new for IAH, as they were recently named the cleanest airport in the U.S. by travel website Skytrax, according to the Houston Daily.

The Houston Chronicle reports that although the new pier will be completed in 2023, the rest of the project including the processing facility won't be finished until 2024.

“At the end of the day, there’s no easy way to build things in a live operational environment,” Andersen said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The key message I want to get across is to please be patient with us. We’re doing the best we can to minimize impact, and it’s for the really important goal of becoming the first five-star airport in North America.”