The details
According to a March 25 news release, the Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility will support the airline's fleet of more than 1,800 ground service vehicles at IAH.
Additionally, officials celebrated the opening of United Airlines's $16 million Technical Operations Training Center during the groundbreaking ceremony. The roughly 91,000-square-foot facility includes sheet metal and composite training shops, desktop simulators and scenario-based engine maintenance and inspection training spaces.
"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,” Phil Griffith, vice president of airport operations for United Airlines's Houston hub, said in a statement. “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."
A closer look
Paul Joklik, managing director of Ground Service Equipment and Facilities for United Airlines, said ground service equipment includes the vehicles and tools that are used to support airplanes when they're on the ground.
Joklik said the maintenance facility will enhance the airline’s ability to service ground vehicles by providing additional resources for crews to perform tasks, including:
- Charging batteries
- Fabricating metal
- Monitoring electronic controls with improved infrastructure and modernized workspaces
According to the news release, the maintenance facility is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs throughout the duration of the project.
What’s next
United Airlines officials said the new maintenance facility is expected to open in 2027.
