Major airport expansions are common in the United States, but rarely do they line up so neatly with the needs of a single airline. In 2026, two of the country’s most important hubs — Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — will see major gate expansions come online. Together, these projects will deliver 36 new gates, all of them to be used by the same carrier.

That carrier is United Airlines, which already dominates both facilities. What makes this interesting is that when airports add new gates, it usually creates opportunities for multiple carriers, but the projects underway at Dulles and Houston are specifically tied to United’s long-term growth strategy. As these gates open, they will provide the airline with significant additional hub capacity — something its two biggest competitors, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, are not seeing at their own major hubs this year.

Washington Dulles: A 14-Gate Concourse Built For United

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Washington Dulles will open a major new facility when Concourse E debuts in late 2026. The concourse is part of the airport’s $7 billion “Dulles Next” modernization program and represents one of the most significant expansions at the airport in decades. The project will deliver 14 new gates and expand overall terminal capacity at a time when passenger growth has pushed existing facilities to their limits.

The new concourse is being built specifically for United Airlines, which already accounts for more than 70% of traffic at the airport. The facility will span 435,000 square feet, connect directly to the airport’s AeroTrain system, and include modern gate areas, over 40,000 square feet of retail and dining space, and a large new United Club lounge.

Beyond the improved passenger experience, the expansion has important operational implications. More gates allow United to schedule additional arrivals and departures during peak connection banks, allowing for more routes and more connections. For United, the additional capacity comes at an important time. The airline has steadily expanded its international network from the airport in recent years, including long-haul routes to Europe and Africa. The new gates give the carrier room to add flights and increase connectivity at what is already one of its fastest-growing hubs.

Jack Potter, CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, recognized this when discussing the new concourse recently:

“Dulles is a key economic engine for the National Capital Region, and United Airlines is our essential partner in the rapid and ongoing growth of the airport. United’s commitment to Dulles – through its support of the new concourse, its long-term expansion plans, including new flights and destinations, and the addition of thousands of local jobs – is a testament to the strength of our partnership.”

Houston Intercontinental: 22 New Gates At United’s Largest Hub

Credit: Houston Airport System

While Dulles represents an important expansion, the project underway in Houston is even larger. At George Bush Intercontinental, the ongoing $2.5 billion Terminal B transformation is set to redevelop 40 gates in total, with the North Concourse expected to add 22 new gates later this year.

The new gates will be part of a modernized concourse that is designed specifically for United’s operations. The three-level facility will span over 700,000 square feet and will include expanded check-in and passenger processing areas, upgraded TSA security areas, an enlarged baggage processing system, and the largest United Club lounge in the airline’s global network.

The Terminal B expansion is being developed in a partnership between the airline and Houston Airports, with the goal of supporting United’s growing fleet and the continued expansion of its domestic and international route network. Phil Griffith, United’s vice president of airport operations had the following to say:

“United Airlines is thrilled to lead this monumental investment in Houston’s future. This expansion not only enhances the passenger experience but also strengthens Houston’s role as a global hub, and will serve millions of passengers annually while creating thousands of local jobs.”

The makeover should greatly increase the airport’s total capacity and level of service, with Terminal B now being able to handle more than 36 million people a year. That scale — more capacity within a single terminal than at many sizable US airports — reflects Houston’s importance to United as one of its primary hubs for both domestic connections and international routes to Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

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Why United Benefits More Than Its Rivals

Credit: United Airlines

While several US airports are seeing construction projects in 2026, very few involve substantial gate expansions, and even fewer directly benefit a single airline’s hub strategy. Outside the United-focused projects at Dulles and Houston, the other notable expansions this year include the following projects:

• New York JFK Airport
  : The massive expansion underway at JFK will see two separate terminal projects open new gates this year. The new Terminal One is scheduled to open 14 new gates in 2026, but as an all-international terminal, these will benefit non-US carriers. Meanwhile, the new Terminal 6 will open the first five of ten new gates in 2026, benefiting a mix of
  JetBlue
  and international partners.
• Salt Lake City International Airport
  : The final phase of the airport’s massive redevelopment program will open 11 additional gates in October 2026. The expansion primarily supports Delta Air Lines, which operates its major hub there, but is not on the same scale as United’s adds at IAD and IAH.
• Hollywood Burbank Airport
  : The Southern California airport is building a new replacement passenger terminal with 14 gates, scheduled to open in late 2026. However, the airport is not a major hub for any single airline, and the two carriers set to benefit most are
  Southwest Airlines
  and
  Alaska Airlines
  .

None of those projects will match the strategic alignment that United gains from infrastructure growth this year. At both IAD and IAH, the new gates are built around United’s operations and directly increase capacity at two of its largest hubs. In contrast, expansions benefiting Delta or American are either smaller in scale, or coming online later in the decade.

That advantage becomes even more significant when paired with United’s fleet strategy. The airline is expected to take delivery of up to 130 new aircraft in 2026, more than any other airline, adding to what is already the world’s largest fleet. New aircraft require new places to park, board passengers, and operate hub banks — and that is exactly what the additional gates at Dulles and Houston provide.

As a result, United is gaining something that is rare in the airline industry: a significant expansion of hub capacity at precisely the moment it needs it most.