Chapman Freeborn has arranged the lease of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner between MIAT Mongolian Airlines and Air Congo, supporting the Congolese carrier’s fleet development and plans to expand its passenger offering.
The aircraft arrived at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa on 27 October 2026, where it was welcomed by Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Transport; Jeanne Madeleine Mpemba Tujibikile, Chairperson of Air Congo; and Mesfin Biru, Director General of Air Congo.
Scheduled to enter service on 31 October, the Boeing 787-9 will provide 292 seats across three cabins: 30 in Business Class, 36 in Premium Economy and 226 in Economy. The aircraft will increase Air Congo’s passenger capacity while offering travellers a wider choice of cabin options.
Chapman Freeborn’s ACMI and Leasing team worked closely with Air Congo to assess its operational requirements, capacity needs and passenger service objectives. The team identified MIAT Mongolian Airlines as a suitable leasing partner and coordinated discussions between the two carriers, supporting the agreement through negotiations and aircraft delivery.
As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening connectivity in Venezuela and across the region, Avianca, a member airline of Abra Group, announced the launch of a second daily nonstop flight between Caracas and Bogotรก, effective Oct. 25.
The route is operated with Airbus A320 aircraft, each with a capacity of 180 passengers, adding approximately 2,500 seats per week for travelers flying to and from Venezuela.
28 Weekly Flights Connecting Venezuela:
With this additional flight, Avianca is expanding travel options and further strengthening its route network to improve connectivity across Venezuela and the region.
Avianca will offer a total of 28 weekly flights to Bogotรก, including two daily flights from Caracas, one daily flight from Valencia and one daily flight from Maracaibo. From Bogotรกโs El Dorado International Airport, travelers can connect to more than 80 destinations across the Americas and Europe.
Aviancaโs connectivity is further complemented by Brazilian airline GOL, also a member of Abra Group, which operates three weekly nonstop flights between Caracas and Sรฃo Paulo, facilitating business and leisure travel between Brazil and Venezuela.
Flight Schedules for the Caracas-Bogotรก-Caracas Route:
From January 2027, Swedavia will introduce a completely new charges model for airlines. Representing the most significant reform of its kind in Swedaviaโs history, the new structure is designed to support domestic air connectivity while further strengthening Stockholm Arlanda Airportโs role as Swedenโs leading international hub.
From 2027 onwards, airlines offering frequent services between Arlanda and smaller airports will receive substantial discounts on landing and passenger charges. These discounts will apply to both domestic routes, such as Gothenburg, Malmรถ and Luleรฅ, and international routes to destinations including Gdaลsk and Bergen. At the same time, Swedaviaโs existing incentive programs for new routes and traffic growth will remain unchanged.
The new model represents an investment of nearly SEK 1 billion by Swedavia over the next five years, in the form of discounts for airlines. The purpose is to strenghten the traffic development at Arlanda.
The new charges model will take effect on January 1, 2027.
United Airlines on October 29, 2026 announced the next menu rotation from its collaboration with Chef’s Table, the brand behind the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series. Featuring 30 new dishes โ including salads, appetizers and entrees โ from 11 world-renowned chefs across ten cities, the new menus give United Polarisยฎ international business class customers more chef-created dining options inspired by the airline’s hub cities and key international gateways.
Since the first menu rotation launched on August 1, more than 60,000 customers have enjoyed the new meals with satisfaction scores nearly 20 points higher than those for other preordered meals. The inaugural menu featured dishes such as Nancy Silverton’s Beef brasato with garlic mash potatoes, salsa verde and horseradish gremolata; Chef David Barzelay’s Black cod broiled in tomato tare with gold rice grits, smoky tomato raisins, peppers and basils; and Chef Tomos Parry’s Slow-roasted lamb with smoked potatoes, grilled broccoli and green sauce.
United continues to invest in enhancing its food and beverage offerings onboard and in its Clubs, building on more than $150M invested in 2025 to elevate the customer dining experience. Since the start of the year, United has expanded United Economyยฎ meal preorder to millions more customers, introduced four new and refreshed snackboxes, elevated its onboard wine program and tested new Club dining experiences, from upgraded buffets to customizable action stations and passed bites.
“The strong response to Chef’s Table reinforces the value of bringing perspectives of world-class chefs onboard in a way that reflects the destinations we serve and the dining experiences our customers seek,” said Aaron McMillan, United’s Managing Director of Hospitality Programs. “With this next menu rotation, we’re building on that foundation, introducing new flavors and chef-driven dishes that bring a greater sense of culinary discovery to the inflight experience.”
“At Chef’s Table, storytelling has always been at the heart of what we do, and our collaboration with United has been a great way to introduce millions of travelers to the incredible chefs we work with and the stories behind their food,” said Justin Connor, President of Chef’s Table Projects. “We’re excited to build on that relationship with new dishes from these chefs, giving travelers a chance to experience even more of their creativity and unique culinary perspectives.”
The new menu pairs seasonal produce with elevated comfort foods inspired by the distinct food cultures of United’s seven U.S. hub cities and key international gateways in London, Sรฃo Paulo and Tokyo, including:
Los Angeles โ Chef Nancy Silverton, Osteria Mozza
An American chef, baker, restaurateur and author, Chef Nancy Silverton won the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef Award in 2014 and is widely considered the patron saint of burrata in America. Her restaurants include award-winning Osteria Mozza, and she is the author of 11 cookbooks, including The Cooking That Changed My Life: And More Than 100 Other Classic Cakes, Cookies, Muffins and Pies That Will Change Yours.
Appetizer: Mozza caprese with slow roasted cherry tomatoes, burrata, extra virgin olive oil and basil pesto
Salad: Chopped salad with iceberg, radicchio, pepperoncini, salami, provolone, braised chickpeas, red onion and oregano vinaigrette
Entrรฉe: Spiral meat lasagna with passato and taleggio sauce
Newark โ Chef Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar
Chef Fariyal Abdullahi serves as Chef Partner of Hav & Mar in New York, where she brings together her Ethiopian heritage and global travels through dishes that blend European culinary techniques with distinctive flavors.
Appetizer: Shiro hummus with seasonal vegetable cruditรฉ
Salad: Kale salad with candied walnuts, pickled dates, fennel, fig, pomegranate and truffle vinaigrette
Entrรฉe: Chermoula glazed chicken breast with cumin spiced rainbow carrots and preserved lemon pearl cous cous.
Chicago โ Chef Jenner Tomaska, Esmรฉ, Petite Edith and The Alston
Chef Jenner Tomaska is a three-time James Beard nominee and co-owner of three acclaimed Chicago restaurants: Michelin-starred Esmรฉ in Lincoln Park, where he combines classical French techniques with artistic presentation; Petite Edith, a French-Midwestern bistro in River North; and The Alston, a steakhouse in the Gold Coast.
Appetizer: Cold smoked trout with apple kohlrabi, fennel celery slaw, dill crรจme, trout roe and brown butter rye granola
Salad: Asparagus, butter lettuce, fine herb salad with broken gribiche, chive oil, pea puree, toasted buckwheat and lemon dressing
Entrรฉe: Roasted chicken breast stuffed with a chicken and mushroom mousseline, morels, fava beans and burnt onion jus
Houston โ Chef Justin Yu, Theodore Rex
Chef Justin Yu, a Houston native and James Beard Award winner, owns Theodore Rex, a relaxed fine dining restaurant in Houston that features French-inspired cuisine.
Appetizer: Gulf crab, horseradish and basil spring roll
Salad: Charred French beans marinated in cumin sweet and sour with pickled grapes and mint
Entrรฉe: Poached chicken breast with a garlic, lemongrass, anchovy curry, coconut Carolina Gold rice, aromatic herbs and marinated cucumber
Denver โ Chef Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton
A James Beard Award winner and Denver native, Chef Penelope Wong honors the diversity that has shaped Denver’s culinary landscape by bringing the flavors of her Asian American upbringing and family memories to life at her eatery, Yuan Wonton.
Appetizer: Roasted sweet potato in chrysanthemum tea syrup
Salad: Radicchio salad with Honeycrisp apple, Chinese celery, pumpkin seed brittle and shallot tarragon vinaigrette
Entrรฉe: Char siu pork with celeriac Yukon puree, anise glazed rainbow carrots, garlic ginger confit and pickled onion.
San Francisco โ Chef David Barzelay, Lazy Bear, JouJou & True Laurel
Chef David Barzelay, a pioneer of approachable American fine dining, owns three San Francisco restaurants: the two-Michelin-starred Lazy Bear in the Mission District, JouJou in the Design District and True Laurel in the Mission.
Appetizer: Dungeness crab Louis with bay shrimp, butter lettuce, deviled egg, smoked trout roe and Ritz crackers
Salad: Roasted beets with fennel, almond and grapefruit citronette
Entrรฉe: Grilled rack of lamb with carrot barbecue sauce, cured carrots and chicories
Washington, D.C. โ Chefs Isabel Coss & Matt Conroy, Lutรจce, Pascual and Maison Bar ร Vins
Chefs Isabel Coss and Matt Conroy blend French culinary techniques with Mexican influences at Lutรจce, Pascual and Maison Bar ร Vins, crafting refined seasonal dishes that showcase bold flavors.
Appetizer: Roasted beet and Asian pear with yogurt, sesame salsa macha, mint and smoked salt
Salad: Hamachi al pastor with roasted pineapple puree, pineapple pico de gallo and heirloom corn chips
Entrรฉe: Duck leg enchilada with queso Oaxaca, crema, roasted sweet potatoes and salsa roja
Sรฃo Paulo โ Chef Manu Buffara, Manu
Chef Manu Buffara is the culinary force behind Manu in Curitiba, where she elevates the bold, vibrant flavors of Brazilian cuisine through a modern lens and responsible agricultural practices, cooking with a deep commitment to stewardship.
Appetizer: Poached shrimp, heart of palm and spicy avocado, with a delicate citrus vinaigrette
Salad: Slow roasted pumpkin with fresh yogurt, toasted cashew nuts, mixed leaves and a light tucupi lemon emulsion
Entrรฉe: Roasted beef with natural jus, bean pirao, sauteed collard greens and fresh herb cumari pepper relish.
London โ Chef Tomos Parry, Mountain & Brat
Chef Tomos Parry is the founder and co-owner of three open-fire restaurants in London, including Michelin-starred Mountain in Soho, Michelin-starred Brat in Shoreditch, and Brat x Climpson’s Arch in Hackney. Drawing from his Welsh and Celtic roots, he blends traditional techniques and cooking styles from Northern Spain into his cuisine.
Appetizer: Smoked trout, golden beetroot, fennel mayonnaise, toasted buckwheat, watercress and dill salad
Entrรฉe: Grilled halibut with parsley garlic potatoes, seaweed sauce, lemon spinach and crispy garlic and lemon oil
Tokyo โ Chef Tashi Gyamtso, Jimgu, Enowa Yufuin
Chef Tashi Gyamtso is the acclaimed head chef of Jimgu, a farm-driven restaurant where menus are crafted entirely from what the land provides.
Appetizer: Red crab with yuzu kosho aioli
Salad: Chilled buckwheat soba salad with tsuyu dressing
Entrรฉe: Ginger soy glazed chicken with Japanese curry ratatouille and sesame crusted potatoes
Connecting cuisine to place, each chef’s meal experience will be offered on flights serving lunch or dinner, departing from the chef’s home city that inspired the recipes. United Polaris international business class travelers will be able to exclusively pre-order meals curated by Chef’s Table chefs on United.com or in the United mobile app. Customers can view and select Chef’s Table meals through pre-order starting five days before departure and up to 24 hours prior to departure, giving them a flexible window to explore the menu and choose their preferred meal ahead of their flight.
The new menus will be served onboard November 1 until December 31, with the program continuing to rotate seasonally into 2027.
Beyond the onboard dining experience, customers can also explore the stories behind the menu through exclusive Chef’s Table content available on United seatback screens. The original content collection takes viewers behind the scenes of United’s collaboration with acclaimed chefs, highlighting the inspiration, ingredients, culinary traditions and creative process that shaped the dishes served in United Polaris.
Customers can also enjoy select episodes of the Chef’s Table: Talks podcast, featuring host David Gelb, creator and director of the Emmy Award-winning series, in conversation with renowned chefs and notable guests about the meals, memories and experiences that influenced their creative journeys. Together, the exclusive programming extends the dining experience beyond the plate, bringing the people, cultures and stories behind the food to life at 35,000 feet.
Chef’s Table is an Emmy Award-winning documentary series that spotlights the world’s most extraordinary chefs who are redefining the culinary landscape. The series is available only on Netflix.
Bookings for United States domestic travel are down by -1.6%
Average US domestic economy airfares increased 30.8% year over year in August 2026
By Destination Analysis
Please note: The destinations are ranked by the number of bookings, from highest to lowest, with the percentage change from last year shown alongside.
TOP 10 DECREASES
Airport code
YoY change
JFK
-3.2%
SFO
-11.7%
ORD
-7.9%
ATL
-6.4%
SEA
-15.3%
DEN
-11.7%
DFW
-12.6%
EWR
-24.6%
MIA
-13.2%
DTW
-9.0%
TOP 10 INCREASES
Airport code
YoY change
LAS
+4.9%
BOS
+3.0%
LGA
+2.5%
FLL
+17.1%
AUS
+11.3%
BNA
+9.6%
BWI
+23.3%
SJC
+19.5%
MSY
+8.4%
IND
+12.9%
Additionally, we’ve analyzed US domestic airfare data by month since January 2025 for the US domestic market, to August 31, 2026 the latest data available. These are average fares, economy class, not including taxes and fees, and not adjusted for inflation. Roughly double the number for roundtrip fares. We note that fares jumped significantly from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026.
Year over year for August, fares were up 30.8%.
For citation: According to Cirium, the aviation analytics company
WestJet on October 26, 2026 announced a reciprocal codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways, providing guests with expanded global connectivity to more destinations across Canada and the Middle East through a single booking experience. WestJet will initially place its code on Qatar Airways’ non-stop services between Toronto (YYZ) and Doha (DOH) and Montreal (YUL) and Doha (DOH) while Qatar Airways will place its code on select WestJet-operated flights from Toronto and Montreal. In a future phase, WestJet will place its code on select destinations beyond Doha, allowing further reach for WestJet guests on Qatar Airways’ global network.
Photo: WestJet
WestJet guests gain streamlined access to Doha
Through Qatar Airways’ Canadian connections to YYZ and YUL, WestJet guests will now enjoy convenient codeshare access to Doha for the first time. Guests travelling on codeshare itineraries will benefit from coordinated connections, the ability to earn WestJet Rewards on their full itinerary, through-checked baggage and the convenience of a single ticket for their journey.
Qatar Airways guests unlock 11 new Canadian connections
Qatar Airways guests travelling to Canada will benefit from expanded access to WestJet’s domestic network from Toronto and Montreal. The agreement will allow guests to connect onward to 11 Canadian destinations, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, St Johns, and Winnipeg.
Milan Bergamo Airport has launched its 2026/27 winter season with an expanded network of 109 destinations across 40 countries, served by 20 airlines.
The new schedule, which runs from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027, will see airlines offer more than 7.47 million seats, an increase of 5.6% compared to the previous winter. The additional capacity reflects continued investment by airline partners, the introduction of new services and increased frequencies on established routes, providing passengers with an extensive choice of destinations for business, leisure and visiting friends and relatives.
Ryanair is adding Reggio Calabria, Liverpool, Paphos and Rabat to its Milan Bergamo Airport network, with the latter three representing new additions compared to the previous winter season. The new services strengthen connections with southern Italy, the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Morocco, while Reggio Calabria represents a brand-new addition to the airport’s route network, with Ryanair introducing daily flights to the southern Italian city.
The airport will also retain several services introduced during the 2026 summer season, extending connectivity to destinations previously absent from its winter schedule. These include Oradea in Romania and Skopje in North Macedonia, both operated by Wizz Air, Yerevan in Armenia with FLYONE Armenia, and Tripoli Mitiga in Libya with Aeroitalia. Their continuation into the winter months supports greater travel flexibility and provides important links for business, tourism and communities travelling between northern Italy and these markets.
Ryanair remains the largest airline at Milan Bergamo Airport, offering approximately 5.87 million seats during the winter season, representing growth of 5.5% year on year. This expansion is supported by the addition of two based aircraft at Milan Bergamo Airport. Wizz Air, the airport’s second-largest carrier, is also increasing its winter capacity by 5%, offering more than 925,000 seats.
Across its European network, Milan Bergamo Airport continues to offer extensive connectivity to major cities, regional centres and popular leisure destinations. The airport also maintains an extensive domestic network, linking Lombardy with destinations throughout Italy.
Several established routes are benefiting from particularly strong capacity growth. Available seats to Palermo are increasing by approximately 33% compared to the previous winter, while Catania and Copenhagen are recording increases of 26% and 24% respectively. Other notable developments include capacity growth on routes to Riga, Krakow, Vienna and Stockholm Arlanda, among others.
Beyond Europe, Milan Bergamo Airport’s winter network continues to provide direct access to destinations across Africa and the Middle East, alongside convenient onward connections to an extensive range of long-haul markets.
The airport’s winter portfolio also caters to seasonal travel preferences, with nonstop flights to warmer destinations such as Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, alongside Mediterranean favourites in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. At the same time, connections to northern destinations, including Rovaniemi, Tromsรธ and Evenes in Norway, provide access to some of Europe’s most popular winter tourism markets.
United Airlines on October 21, 2026 previewed its new Terminal B North Concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a three-level, 765,000 square-foot, 22 mainline gate facility that opens to the public tomorrow.
Terminal B North also includes a huge, 54,000-sq-ft United Club โ the largest club of any airline in the Americas โ with seating for 800 people, an outdoor terrace and panoramic views of the airfield.
The terminal design creates a sense of openness with soaring ceilings, expansive gathering spaces and sweeping airfield views and the public spaces feature 10 different art installations inspired by Houston’s bayous, cultural diversity, innovation and global connections, as well as a dedicated sensory room for travelers.
Travelers will find new retail, concession and restaurant options including Houston favorites like B&B Butchers & Restaurant, Rosie Cannonball, Pizaro’s Pizza, Blood Bros. BBQ, Katz Coffee and Blue Bell Creameries.
United is the largest airline in Houston, with more than 14,000 employees and 500 daily departures, and has invested more than $3.5 billion in the city’s airport since 2015.
The new concourse, replacing facilities dating back to 1969, is the centerpiece of United’s broader $2.6B Terminal B Transformation Program. Together with improvements to the Terminal B South Concourse, United will have 48 gates in Terminal B. Every United flight operating from the Terminal B North Concourse will board through a jet bridge, delivering more convenience to travelers. The transformation also increases the overall number of customers who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared to 2023, while building on United’s broader investment in Houston facilities and employees.
Operational Excellence and Modern Infrastructure
The new Terminal B is engineered to accommodate United’s growing fleet and support a seamless customer journey. Key infrastructure highlights include:
22 new mainline gates in the North Concourse: The gates are designed for narrow-body aircraft and provide larger seating and boarding areas.
26 gates in the South Concourse: Upgrades to the Terminal B South Concourse include accommodations for larger regional aircraft, additional jet bridge access, and other customer-focused enhancements
Jet bridges for every United flight in North Concourse: All United flights operating from Terminal B North use jet bridges, providing a climate-controlled connection between the terminal and aircraft.
Advanced baggage technology: A new baggage handling system includes tracking technology designed to support the terminal’s increased capacity.
Expanded airport access: Includes additional curbside and roadway capacity, a ground-level check-in area and a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A.
Latin America Gateway and a Record-Size Domestic Network
From IAH, United serves 65 international destinations across the globe. With 57 international destinations within Latin America and the Caribbean, United offers more destinations to the region than from any other hub in its network, including destinations that no other U.S. airline serves. Domestically, 2026 represents United’s largest schedule in over 10 years, with nearly 17M annual seats for both Houston residents and visitors as well as international connecting customers. This year, United added ten new cities to its domestic network including Hartford, Connecticut, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Burlington, Vermont, and Spokane, Washington and will continue to grow in 2027.
This winter, United is adding three new international destinations from IAH, enabled by the continued growth of the airline in Houston. Later this month, United will launch new service to Tuxtla Gutiรฉrrez* from Houston, giving the Mexican city its only nonstop international connection. In December, United will become the first U.S. airline to offer nonstop service between Houston and Cartagena, Colombia, and in January United will connect Houston with Caracas, Venezuela*. Together, these new routes strengthen Houston’s role as an important global hub and a key gateway to Latin America, connecting travelers with places that have historically been harder to reach from the United States.
The redeveloped Terminal B gives United greater flexibility to grow its Houston network. With 22 new mainline gates in the North Concourse, United can now accommodate larger aircraft and add seats to markets where demand is strongest. The South Concourse has also been reconfigured to better accommodate larger, two-class regional aircraft, enhancing connectivity across United’s network. This added flexibility is creating opportunities for future growth, including the plans to restart of service between Houston and Chihuahua, Mexico (CUU)* next spring, further expanding travel options for customers and strengthening Houston’s role as a leading gateway to Mexico and Latin America.
The Largest Airline Club in the Americas
The redeveloped Terminal B North includes the largest United Club and largest airline club across North and South America. Located on the mezzanine level, the 54,000-square-foot club features panoramic views of the airfield and expanded space for customers to dine, work or relax before their flights.
With seating for 800 travelers, the expansive club offers more space, comfort and convenience, including a 1,350-square-foot outdoor terrace. Customers can enjoy two full-service bars, two buffet stations, eleven private phone rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets throughout the club, whether they’re looking to relax, work or recharge before their flight.
Inspired by Houston’s distinctive spirit, the club’s design captures the feeling of traveling from the city to the sky, blending elements of the local cityscape and bayou landscape with nods to Houston’s legacy as a center of aerospace innovation and cultural diversity. The space features a curated collection of artwork from predominantly Texas-based artists, including photography by a San Antonio-based United employee.
The new club builds on United’s growing lounge portfolio at IAH, following the February 2025 opening of United Club Fly on the south side of Terminal B. Designed for travelers on the go, United Club Fly offers self-scan entry and a convenient selection of fresh food, snacks, beverages and barista-made coffee to take to their gates. With the opening of the new Terminal B North club, United has seven club and lounge locations across IAH, including United Club Fly and the United Polarisยฎ lounge.
Customers can access United Club locations through a United Club membership, eligible United credit cards or select premium cabin tickets.
A Sense of Discovery
Terminal B North was designed to elevate the entire experience of getting customers from curb to gate:
Houston-Inspired Art: A $16.8 million public art program creates a distinct Houston experience for travelers, including 10 large-scale installations from Houston-based, national and international artists selected from nearly 150 submissions across Houston, the United States and Europe. The Terminal B public art program is the single largest art program investment at IAH to date.
Inspired by Houston’s bayous, ecosystem, cultural diversity, history and innovation, the artworks are integrated throughout the terminal’s public spaces, concourses and baggage claim areas.
Highlights include The Digital Bayou, a series of three immersive digital art experiences created by Moment Factory, a new commission from internationally recognized Houston artist Rick Lowe and reimagined mosaic murals by Houston artist Dixie Friend Gay. Unique sculptural artworks by artists Karen Navarro, Shavon Aja Morris, Rachel Hecker, Matthew Mazzotta, and Edra Soto can also be found throughout the terminal.
A More Inclusive Customer Experience: Designed to create a more inclusive customer experience, Terminal B features a dedicated sensory room for travelers with autism and sensory sensitivities.
Located in the connector area and separate from the children’s play area, the calming space gives children and adults a place to step away from the airport environment and engage with sensory experiences they can control.
Building on sensory rooms in Terminals A and D, the new space includes tactile, auditory, visual and multisensory features such as an airplane experience room, sitting pods, interactive activity panels, a nature room, a fiber-optic stargazer ceiling and a bubble tube area.
Built Toward LEED Certification: As part of United’s commitment to sustainable development, the new IAH Terminal B North Concourse is pursuing LEED Gold Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4 Building Design and Construction program.
The terminal incorporates a wide range of sustainable design features, including a projected 29% reduction in energy costs, significant (more than 35%) indoor water-use reductions, advanced energy and water metering, enhanced indoor air quality strategies, heat island reduction measures, light pollution reduction, and dedicated recycling collection systems.
The project also features extensive electrification infrastructure, including 91 ground support equipment charging stations, electric ground power units, and pre-conditioned air systems to support lower-emission airport operations.
World-Class Dining and Retail
United selected a world-class lineup of dining and retail partners for the new space, dedicating more than 105,000 square feet to retail and concessions that reflect Houston’s status as a culinary capital.
The Concourse features local concepts that reflect the culinary diversity of Houston alongside trusted national brands including:
Houston Favorites: B&B Butchers & Restaurant, Rosie Cannonball, Pizaro’s Pizza, Blood Bros. BBQ, Katz Coffee and Blue Bell Creameries.
National Brands: Starbucks, Raising Cane’s, Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s, Smashburger, Jamba, Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon and Protein Bar & Kitchen.
Wellness and Retail: Be Relax Spa, offering massages, nail care and facials, sits alongside high-end duty-free and specialty retail shops.
Later this year, United plans to introduce food delivery through the United app at IAH, giving eligible customers a new way to order food, beverages and select travel essentials before their flight. Customers will be able to browse participating restaurants, place an order directly through the app and pick it up near their gate, or have it delivered to them, making it easier to grab a meal or essential item when time is limited. The service is designed to complement the expanded dining options in Terminal B and help create a more seamless airport experience from curb to gate.
United’s Continued Investment in Houston
The Terminal B transformation has supported employment and economic activity across the Houston region with approximately 3,000 construction-related jobs, while partnering with 308 Houston-based suppliers. According to a recent study by Compass Lexecon, United’s direct employment in Houston contributes more than $1.2 billion in economic activity annually.
“The opening of the Terminal B north concourse strengthens one of Houston’s most important transportation and economic assets,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “This investment supports jobs, expands the airport’s capacity and gives residents and visitors a modern facility that represents the scale and ambition of our city.”
United’s $3.5 billion investment in Houston includes a $16 million Technical Operations Training Center at IAH, a $177 million Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility designed to support both employees and the airline’s fleet and the transformation of Terminal B.
Air Astanaโs first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered EI-KZA, has begun its factory flight testing program in Charleston, USA, where one of Boeingโs manufacturing facilities is located.
airBaltic has started rolling out an in-seat ordering feature through its Skynet onboard portal, enabling passengers to order food and beverages directly from the onboard airCafe menu using their personal mobile devices. Skynet airCafe offers an extensive onboard menu with a wide range of food and drink options across the entire airBaltic network. Passengers can pay digitally using a variety of payment methods, with cabin crew bringing their orders directly to their seats.
The service is being gradually introduced across all flight groups starting with short and mid-haul flights and will be available on Starlink-equipped aircraft. On these flights, passengers can access the Skynet airCafe ordering service through the Skynet home page after connecting to the onboard internet or through the airBaltic app to enjoy airBaltic Club benefits while ordering. It is also possible to connect by scanning a QR code in the Baltic Outlook magazine.
Using the service, passengers can browse the airCafe menu, explore special offers and discounts on fresh food products, check product availability and prices in real time, and add, adjust or remove items from their basket before confirming an order. They can also track their order status from confirmation to delivery. Payments can be made via Apple Pay, Google Pay, payment cards, and bank links, with digital receipts sent by email. airBaltic Club members can earn loyalty points on eligible purchases and enjoy a 10% discount on hot and soft drinks.
Launched at the end of March 2026, the Skynet onboard portal offers a range of digital services, including flight information, live flight tracking, destination details and exclusive onboard offers. It also features airMall, a digital shopping platform offering popular brands, where passengers can earn one airBaltic Club point for every euro spent, as well as offers from partners such as Booking.com, Sixt and GetYourGuide for accommodation, car rental and local activities.
