United expands Houston hub with investments in training and ground operations
March 28, 2025
United Airlines has reinforced its commitment to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) by breaking ground on a new 140,000-square-foot ground service equipment (GSE) maintenance facility and opening a new Technical Operations Training Center.
These projects are part of United’s broader strategy to modernise infrastructure and enhance training as it prepares for fleet expansion in the coming years.
Phil Griffith, Vice President of Airport Operations at United, said: “At United, we believe that investing in our people and our facilities is the key to maintaining our leadership in the aviation industry.
“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.”
The new $177 million GSE maintenance facility, expected to be operational by 2027, will service United’s fleet of over 1,800 ground vehicles. It will provide its 130-strong maintenance team with upgraded infrastructure for battery charging, metal fabrication, and electronic control monitoring.
Meanwhile, the $16 million Technical Operations Training Center will play a vital role in United’s future growth, supporting the airline’s plan to introduce hundreds of new aircraft by 2032. The 91,000-square-foot facility will feature sheet metal and composite training shops, desktop simulators, and scenario-based engine maintenance training.
A key component of the new training centre is a $6.3 million Move Team Facility, which will centralise United’s Super Tug operations at IAH. The airline’s Move Team currently oversees more than 15 Super Tugs, managing hundreds of aircraft movements daily to optimise flight departures, remote parking, and technical operations.
“By opening our Tech Ops Training Center, we are setting a new industry standard for real-world and specialised 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.”
