A recent meeting confirmed a change of plans for the new international terminal at Houston George Bush Intercontinental to better address congestion and allow the airport to cope with its growing prominence as an international gateway.

Set to open in 2024, the new proposals for the international terminal would see the existing Terminals D and E combined into a single terminal. It would cost $1.2 billion and aims to replicate the setup of the airport’s other terminals.

The plans submitted three years ago for the Mickey Leland International Terminal, as the new facility is to be named, called for the demolition and replacement of the 20-year-old Terminal D, with Terminal E unmodified.

When questioned about why the plans have now changed, Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz told the meeting of the Houston City Council’s Economic Development Committee that the new proposals would save time and money, and most of all they would better address the needs of passengers.

Utilizing the existing structures will allow for minimal new construction, yet the result will be a new terminal capable of handling the growing number of international flights serving Houston.

Diaz confirmed that that the 2015 plans were not, on reflection, satisfactory in providing sufficient baggage claim areas and curbside pickup areas. With growing passenger numbers, these problems would continue to get worse, which ultimately made little sense.

Like Terminals A, B and C, the revised plans for the new terminal would utilize a central ticketing, security and baggage claim area — constructed out of the present Terminal E — with two concourses for boarding gates, food concessions and retail created in the current boarding areas of each terminal.

The new terminal would not come without some losses to the existing infrastructure. The present parking garage for Terminal D would need to come down, replaced by adding more levels to the garage at Terminal C. Additionally, the old Terminal C North will be demolished, however this was recently replaced by tenant United Airlines with some new widebody gates.

Diaz told the Houston Chronicle, "This project is of essential importance to the city. If Houston is to remain a top-ranked international gateway to the United States, if we have any hope of reaching a 5-star rating and provide an experience for our passengers that is unsurpassed by any competing cities, we must succeed with this project."

The announcement comes just as Houston’s two airports — Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby — ranked in the top 10 in their respective categories in the J.D. Power 2018 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

Bush came in sixth in the "mega" airport category while Hobby ranked 10th in the "large" category. It is hoped that Bush is on track to ultimately reach a five-star rating when its master plan and works like the new international terminal are realized.

They will improve the passenger experience from curbside to boarding gate and revitalize the aging infrastructure at a time when most of America’s large airports are competing to shake off their dwindling reputation among worldwide gateways.