United Airlines Invests in New Facilities

United Airlines Enhances IAH Operations

United has made another investment in its Houston hub, commencing construction on a new 140,000-square-foot Ground Service Equipment (GSE) Maintenance Facility at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Additionally, a new Technical Operations Training Center will open at the airport, providing employees with a state-of-the-art training experience.

United is Houston's largest airline, boasting over 14,000 employees and more than 500 daily flights. These upcoming infrastructure enhancements highlight the airline's ongoing dedication to both its employees and the local community. Since 2021, United has poured over $32 billion into global investments, including billions allocated for modern infrastructure, advanced technology, and nearly $10 billion specifically for employee raises.

"At United, we believe that investing in our people and our facilities is the key to maintaining our leadership in the aviation industry," said Vice President of Airport Operations, Phil Griffith.

"With these new facilities, Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility and the Technical Operations Training Center, we are enhancing our ability to maintain a world-class fleet while empowering our employees with cutting-edge tools and training. This investment reflects our long-term vision for Houston as a critical hub for United's operations and our commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and growth."

United anticipates the opening of its new $177 million GSE maintenance facility in 2027. This facility will enhance support for the airline's fleet of over 1,800 ground service vehicles and provide the Ground Service Equipment maintenance team, which consists of more than 130 employees, with additional resources to carry out essential tasks such as battery charging, metal fabrication, and electronic control monitoring, all within upgraded infrastructure and modernized workspaces. Additionally, the new $16 million Tech Ops Training Center (TTC) will facilitate the airline's strategy to acquire hundreds of new aircraft by 2032. Occupying 91,000 square feet, the facility will feature sheet metal and composite training shops, desktop simulators, and scenario-based training for engine maintenance and inspections.

The new Training Center will feature a state-of-the-art $6.3 million Move Team Facility, designed to streamline United's Super Tug operations. The IAH Move Team coordinates over 15 Super Tugs across the airfield, efficiently relocating hundreds of aircraft each day to facilitate flight departures, remote parking, and Technical Operations Hangars. This substantial investment in both the Tech Ops Training Center and Move Team functions strengthens the airline's growth under the United Next strategy. United Next aims to enhance the customer experience by adding over 500 new narrow-body aircraft to its fleet, increasing available seats per domestic departure by nearly 30%, significantly lowering carbon emissions per seat, and generating tens of thousands of quality, unionized jobs by 2026.

"By opening our Tech Ops Training Center, we are setting a new industry standard for real world and specialized training opportunities for United technicians," said Kirk Limacher, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations and Planning at United.

"We're also extremely pleased to break ground on a new GSE maintenance facility which will revolutionize our capacity to maintain our fleet of ground service equipment for decades to come."

Meeting Growing Demand and Advancing Sustainability Efforts

The design of the GSE maintenance facility aims for LEED Silver certification and will be double the size of the current facility, which was constructed 40 years ago when IAH had just 37% of its present gates. 

This facility represents United's ongoing efforts to establish a foundation for future expansion at IAH. Currently, the fleet in Houston includes over 1,100 electric ground service equipment (eGSE) units, underscoring the airline's commitment to electrification in Houston. Houston houses our largest collection of electrified GSE, which necessitates less maintenance and contributes to reduced air pollution.

The new GSE maintenance facility will offer essential space to accommodate both current and future requirements. Key features include:

• A 25% increase in repair space
• A 60% increase in shop space
• An 80% increase in storage capacity
• A 50% increase in shared spaces

Supporting the Local Community and Workforce

This major investment in GSE maintenance underscores United Airlines' steadfast dedication to the local community and its workforce. The new GSE facility is expected to generate jobs as United expands its operations in Houston. 

In Houston, the airline recruited over 2,100 local employees in 2023 and is set to add more than 600 new team members in 2024. This growth is projected to create an additional 4,000 construction jobs. A recent study by Compass Lexecon reveals that United's direct employment in Houston generates more than $1.2 billion in annual economic activity. Including the Terminal B project, United has invested over $3.5 billion in its Houston facilities since 2015.

Technical Operations Training Center Ensures Skills for Growing Fleet

United Airlines has invested $ 16 million in a cutting-edge Tech Ops Training Center (TTC) located in Houston, which centralizes training for both new hires and advanced skills development for Tech Ops employees within a 91,000-square-foot facility. The TTC offers a thorough, practical learning atmosphere, ensuring that United's technicians acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to maintain the airline's expanding fleet with accuracy and effectiveness.

The Technical Operations Training Facility features training workshops for sheet metal and composites, along with desktop simulators that enable technicians to learn troubleshooting techniques for Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft. Additionally, it offers scenario-based maintenance training focused on specialized aircraft maintenance, including borescope inspections and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for engines. The TTC provides opportunities for hands-on training in simulators and specific aircraft components within a shop setting, as opposed to a conventional classroom. This practical instruction improves knowledge retention and enriches the learning experience without requiring aircraft to be taken out of service.

Continued investment in Houston

United stands as Houston's largest airline, employing over 14,000 people and operating more than 500 flights daily. These latest investments come on the heels of United's Terminal B renovation and expansion initiative, expected to finish in 2026. The project aims to add 40 gates for larger aircraft, boosting passenger capacity by 40% for both domestic and international travel from IAH. The newly upgraded terminal will feature a spacious United ClubSM, the largest within the network, offering panoramic views of the airfield.