United Airlines at IAH — Houston Intercontinental
Live delay counts and on-time performance are calculated on the full dashboard using schedule comparison data.
Dive Deep at The Blue Board
The Blue Board is the only real-time operations dashboard built specifically for United Airlines passengers. Live flight tracking, AI-powered delay risk predictions, inbound aircraft tracking, Starlink WiFi status, and IROPS monitoring, updated in real-time.
This page gives you the overview — but the real action is on the dashboard. Track every United flight at IAH in real time, set up flight watch alerts, check equipment swaps, and monitor weather radar overlaid on the live map.
Hub Overview
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is United Airlines' primary gateway to Latin America and one of its largest hubs by geographic footprint. With approximately 480 daily departures, IAH connects to over 170 destinations across the Americas, Europe, and beyond.
United uses three terminals, connected by the Subway automated people mover (formerly TerminaLink): Terminal B for United Express regional flights, Terminal C for mainline domestic flights, and Terminal E for domestic and international flights, including the United Polaris lounge near gate E12 for premium international travelers. United Club lounges are located across these terminals.
Key Routes from IAH
- Domestic: ORD, DEN, SFO, LAX, EWR, IAD — all major United hub connections plus extensive Texas/Gulf Coast network
- Latin America: MEX, GDL, CUN, BOG, LIM, GRU, EZE, SCL, PTY, SJO, SAL, GUA — the most extensive Latin American network of any U.S. carrier
- Transatlantic: LHR, FRA, AMS
- Pacific: NRT, SYD (via LAX connection)
Delay Patterns at IAH
Houston's Gulf Coast location means weather is the dominant factor in IAH delays. Understanding seasonal patterns helps set expectations:
Summer (May–Sep)
Intense afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily occurrences in Houston. Convective cells build quickly, producing heavy rain, lightning, and occasional hail. Ground stops and ground delay programs are common between 2–8 PM. The extended summer storm season (May through September) is IAH's most challenging period.
Hurricane Season (Jun–Nov)
Tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico can shut down IAH operations for days. Even distant tropical systems can produce sustained rain bands and wind that reduce capacity. Hurricane preparations may trigger preemptive cancellations 24–48 hours before landfall.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Rare ice storms and freezing rain events can paralyze operations, as IAH has limited de-icing infrastructure compared to northern hubs. Fog is also common in winter mornings along the Gulf Coast.
Starlink WiFi at IAH
United Airlines is equipping its fleet with Starlink satellite internet — the fastest WiFi ever offered on a commercial airline, and free for all MileagePlus members, gate-to-gate. As of mid-2026, 425+ United aircraft are equipped (about 24% of the combined fleet). United Express regional jets led the rollout — Embraer 175s first, starting May 2025 — and over half the regional fleet is now equipped.
IAH has a special place in the mainline rollout: the first mainline Starlink aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, flew its first Starlink service EWR→IAH on Oct 15, 2025. Narrowbody installs (737, A321neo) are ramping through 2026, and the first widebody (777) entered transatlantic service on June 22, 2026 — relevant for IAH's mix of narrowbody and widebody flying. The entire widebody fleet is expected by summer 2027, with a goal of roughly 1,000 equipped aircraft by the end of 2026.
Use The Blue Board's Fleet tab to check if your specific aircraft has Starlink. You can search by tail number, flight number, or aircraft type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is United Airlines delayed at IAH today?
Check the live status panel at the top of this page for current on-time performance, delay counts, and cancellations. For flight-level detail, open IAH on The Blue Board to see every flight in real time.
What terminal is United at Houston?
United uses three terminals: Terminal B for United Express regional flights, Terminal C for mainline domestic flights, and Terminal E for domestic and international flights (the United Polaris lounge is in Terminal E near gate E12). The Subway people mover connects all terminals. Note: Terminal B check-in is currently closed during the Terminal B Transformation and routed through Terminal C, so allow extra time.
How many United flights depart from IAH daily?
Approximately 480 daily departures, making IAH United's primary Latin American gateway and one of its largest hubs by geographic footprint.
Which United planes at IAH have Starlink WiFi?
Starlink is free for all MileagePlus members, gate-to-gate. As of mid-2026, 425+ United aircraft are equipped (~24% of the fleet) — United Express regional jets led the rollout (Embraer 175s first, from May 2025), and mainline installs are ramping through 2026 (the first mainline Starlink flight was EWR→IAH on Oct 15, 2025) toward a goal of ~1,000 aircraft by year-end. Check the Fleet tab for the latest count and specific tail numbers.