[00:00:28]
THEY BROKE GROUND TODAY ON A $2.6 BILLION TERMINAL PROJECT.
THE AIRLINE IS PROMISING A BIGGER AND BETTER TERMINAL.
B, THE EXPANSION IS GONNA LET US GROW HOUSTON BY 40%.
THIS 54,000 SQUARE FOOT CLUB, THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD BY US CARRIERS LOST IN MY 30 YEARS.
HERE IT IS THE NICEST, THE LARGEST TERMINAL THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
WE DESIGNED IT AND BUILT IT OURSELF WITH OUR OWN MONEY.
IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES WHAT A CITY, A COMMUNITY CAN DO IF THEY WORK IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES.
ALL THE NEW AIRCRAFT THAT WE'RE TAKING, ALL THE RETROFITS THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, REALLY BEST AIRCRAFT OF ANY AIRLINE IN THE WESTERN WORLD OVER.
SO WE BROUGHT OUR HANDS UP LIKE THE CEILING CAN US, LIKE THE CEILING CAN US.
THERE'S NO OTHER AIRLINE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS THE KIND OF CREATIVITY THAT OUR TEAM HAS WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT NEW DESTINATIONS.
THE STREAMING CONNECTION ABSOLUTELY SOLID.
I'M GONNA DO THE DRAFT FROM A PLANE THANKS TO STARLINK WIFI.
I'M NOT GONNA MISS A PICK BECAUSE IT'S SO FAST AND IT'S SO RELIABLE.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD SOMEBODY DRAFT FROM A PLANE BREAKING NEW GROUND.
WE'VE ASSEMBLED 11 EXTRAORDINARY CHEFS INTO A SINGLE CULINARY PROGRAM.
UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN THE SKY, UNITED AIRLINES IS UNVEILING A NEW ECONOMY OPTION THAT LETS TRAVELERS TRANSFORM THREE STANDARD SEATS INTO A FLAT COUCH.
UNITED AIRLINES ANNOUNCED A NEW ECONOMY SECTION WITH THE MIDDLE SEAT BLOCKED OFF THAT UNITED APP BAR.
NONE IS THE BEST CAP OF ANY AIRLINE IN THE WORLD.
WE GOT A LOT MORE FIRST TO COME.
WE REALLY ARE EXCITED FOR OUR OVERALL FUTURE.
AND FOR HOUSTON, PLEASE WELCOME VICE PRESIDENT HOUSTON HUB, UNITED AIRLINES.
BIG THINGS IN TEXAS, HUH? YEAH.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAD HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AROUND AND, AND SEE OUR NEW TERMINAL AND, AND THE NEW CLUB.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HOW ABOUT A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY? UM, AND AGAIN, BEFORE I GET STARTED, WE HAVE A COUPLE, UM, DIGNITARIES HERE, UH, THAT I WANNA RECOGNIZE.
UH, THE, UH, TSA ADMINISTRATOR DAVID CUMMINS IS HERE.
THE, UH, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, ROBERT HASIN IS HERE.
AND OF COURSE, OUR OWN MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF HOUSTON IS HERE.
WE'RE GONNA GET A CHANCE TO HEAR HIM SPEAK IN A LITTLE BIT, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
HEY, AS OUR TERMINAL B REDEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING, IT'S BEEN MORE THAN MORE THAN 50 YEARS TO BE EXACT.
UH, 1969 WAS THE LAST TIME TERMINAL B GOT AN UPDATE.
SO IT'S SAFE TO SAY THIS INVESTMENT COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME.
[00:05:01]
UM, BEST PRACTICES, BEST TECHNOLOGIES, BEST DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FROM ALL OF OUR STATIONS AROUND UNITED'S GLOBAL NETWORK, A SENSORY ROOM, AN IMPRESSIVE ARTWORK COLLECTION BY LOCAL ARTISTS THAT ARE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE TERMINAL.AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE ARTISTS ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, WE THANK THEM FOR CELEBRATING WITH US.
THERE'S A LOT THAT'S LANDED RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
WE'VE GOT RESTAURANTS THAT CELEBRATE HOUSTON'S FOOD SCENE AND INTERNATIONAL RETAIL BRANDS THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.
AND IMPRESSIVELY, REALLY IMPRESSIVELY.
HOUSTON IS NOW HOME TO THE LARGEST UNITED CLUB, NOT ONLY IN THE ENTIRE NETWORK FOR UNITED, BUT ACROSS ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.
I THINK BRANDON DESCRIBED IT AS BEING THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
CAN WE GIVE, UH, I GUESS SAYING, I GUESS IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO SPENDS A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN THIS OPERATION, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING A LOT OF THIS OPERATION UP CLOSE.
I'VE WATCHED CONSTRUCTION CREWS START WORK BEFORE SUNRISE.
I'VE SEEN TEAMS ADAPT IN REAL TIME, AND I'VE WITNESSED EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS REQUIRED TO KEEP THE OPERATION RUNNING WHILE WE BUILD THE FUTURE.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR EMPLOYEES TO OUR GATE AGENTS, OUR RAMP TEAMS, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS, OUR TECHNICIANS, OUR STATION OPERATION CENTER EMPLOYEES, OUR NETWORK OPERATION CENTER EMPLOYEES.
HOW ABOUT OUR PILOTS AND OUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS? I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ALL OF THEM AND THE COUNTLESS EMPLOYEES THAT WORK ACROSS THIS HUB TO, UM, MAKE A PROJECT LIKE THIS, OF THIS MAGNITUDE COME TO BEAR.
I TOLD BRANDON I WASN'T GONNA EMBARRASS HIM, BUT I GUESS I AM.
TODAY WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR CORPORATE REAL ESTATE TEAM THAT BRANDON LEADS OUR CONTRACTORS AND OUR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE THAT TOOK SMALL IDEAS, DETAILED IDEAS, AND GOT US TO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THEM RELEVANT FOR WHAT WE DID RIGHT HERE IN IAHI MEAN, THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT'S REQUIRED TO PLAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS MIND BENDING.
AND OUR CORPORATE REAL ESTATE TEAM DID A SUPER JOB WITH THAT, WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP.
THIS PROJECT MOVED FROM VISION TO REALITY IN ROUGHLY TWO YEARS.
THROUGH MILLIONS OF HOURS OF WORK, THE MILLIONS OF HOURS OF WORK IT TOOK TO BRING THIS TERMINAL LIFE SAFETY REMAINED OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT WAS COMPLETED WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL SAFETY RECORD.
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL FEEL GREAT ABOUT.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF YOU, WE'VE ASKED YOU TO ARRIVE EARLIER, FOLLOW TEMPORARY SIGNS, NAVIGATE CHANGING ROADWAYS, AND YES, PACK A LITTLE EXTRA PATIENCE.
AND YOU DID YOUR LOYALTY AND TRUST NEVER WAVERED.
THAT TRUST HAS MEANT EVERYTHING TO US, AND IT REFLECTS THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE BUILT TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.
AND YOUR BELIEF IN OUR VISION FOR FUTURE, FOR THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL.
WITH UNITED OUT OF IAH TODAY, WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE.
PROJECTS LIKE THIS DON'T HAPPEN ALONE.
THEY REQUIRE COLLABORATION, SUPPORT, AND A SHARED VISION.
THANK YOU TO CITY LEADERS, TO AIRPORT PARTNERS, AND EVERYONE WHO PLAYED A ROLE IN HELPING TO MAKE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.
TODAY ISN'T JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING A NEW TERMINAL.
IT'S ABOUT JOBS, IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S ABOUT UNITED'S COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON WHILE SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR TRAVEL IN THE CITY.
ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT UNITED, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THE VISION AND THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING THIS INCREDIBLE MILESTONE WITH US.
[00:10:05]
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SCOTT KIRBY.ISN'T THIS BUILDING SPECTACULAR? UM, IT'S AMAZING.
UM,
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY DONE A BUNCH.
UM, BUT I ALWAYS THANK ADMINISTRATOR CUMMINS FOR COMING.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA, YOU'RE GONNA BOTH SPEAK, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
MOSTLY, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE UNITED EMPLOYEES, UM, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE.
YOU GUYS ARE MAKING UNITED THE BEST AIRLINE IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION.
YOU DELIVER FOR CUSTOMERS AND BRANDON, ROB WALKER AND KAYLA, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
UM, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BUILT THIS, THIS INCREDIBLE FACILITY, BUT THEY ALSO DID IT.
I THINK PERHAPS WHAT'S MOST AMAZING ABOUT THIS IS THE START OF DESIGN WORK TO TEARING IT DOWN, BUILDING A NEW FACILITY, BUILDING A NEW STRUCTURE, AND OPENING IT AND HAVING CUSTOMERS IN IT, AND AIRPLANES FLYING OFF.
UM, I, I HAVE PROJECTS AT MY HOUSE THAT TAKE LONGER THAN THAT
UM, I GUESS MAYBE I'M THE PROBLEM, BUT, UM, BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE IF YOU BUILD STUFF AROUND THE COUNTRY, LIKE THE, THE, THE, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE HERE IN HOUSTON, MAYBE YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, CAN APPRECIATE HOW BIG OF A DEAL THAT IS.
WE HAVE PROJECTS AT OTHER PLACES THAT TAKE 20 YEARS.
UH, I I MEAN LITERALLY 20 YEARS, UH, TO COMPLETE.
UM, AND THIS ONE WAS DONE IN 33 MONTHS.
SO, UH, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE A CAN-DO COMMUNITY, UM, THAT'S WILLING TO SUPPORT THE, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT ARE GOOD, UH, FOR THE CITY, UH, ECONOMIC DRIVERS.
UM, A PARTNER LIKE UNITED AIRLINES THAT'S GONNA GO OFF AND WORK HARD TO GET IT DONE.
UH, BUT WHEN YOU WORK TOGETHER AND YOUR GOAL, HAVE A UNIFIED GOAL TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE CITY, UH, AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER, UH, YOU CAN GET INCREDIBLE STUFF DONE.
SO, AND I THINK OF THIS TERMINAL AS REALLY JUST ANOTHER MILESTONE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AT UNITED TO BUILD THE BEST AIRLINE IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION.
AND WE'RE MANIACALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING AIR TRAVEL GREAT FOR CUSTOMERS, MAKING IT EASY.
UM, AND FOR SO FOR SO LONG IN AVIATION, PEOPLE THOUGHT OF AIR TRAVEL AS A COMMODITY.
I DO NOT THINK AIR TRAVEL IS A COMMODITY.
UH, I THINK WE OWE YOU OUR CUSTOMERS A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
LIKE IT GOING TO, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE CHALLENGES.
THERE'S GONNA BE WEATHER ISSUES, THERE'S GONNA BE MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
THERE'S GONNA BE THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
BUT HOW DO WE MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE GOOD FOR YOU? I'VE STARTED SAYING TO OUR TEAM, I WANT YOUR VACATION FOR MOST PEOPLE TODAY.
YOUR VACATION STARTS WHEN YOU LAND AT YOUR DESTINATION AIRPORT FOR UNITED AIRLINES.
I WANT YOUR VACATION TO START WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
AND A GREAT TERMINAL LIKE THIS THAT'S OPEN IT'S AREA THAT'S SPACIOUS.
YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST CLUB IN THE AMERICAS.
EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO BE.
AND, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATOR CUMMINGS, YOU KNOW, I SPENT HALF AN HOUR WITH HIM BEFORE WE CAME IN.
AND WHAT HE'S DOING AT THE TSA, HE'S ALREADY HELPED US, YOU KNOW, LET YOU DO BIOMETRICS FOR BAG DROPS TO MAKE IT EASY.
TRYING TO GET TSA PRE-CHECK TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
JUST USE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO OPT IN.
JUST BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH, UH, AND USE YOUR FACIAL IDENTITY.
UH, IF YOU WANT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER.
BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO INSIDE HERE, WE NEED YOU TO BE A PARTNER WITH US.
AND I ASKED HIM, BY THE WAY, TO USE HOUSTON AS THE TEST CASE TO DO ALL THIS STUFF FIRST.
ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN GETTING YOU INTO TERMINAL WHERE IT'S GREAT AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BEST AIRPLANES, UH, IN THE WESTERN WORLD HERE AT UNITED.
NOW, OUR TECHNOLOGY IS BY FAR THE BEST.
LIKE, IT'S THE MOST COMMON COMMENT I GET FROM CUSTOMERS IS THE APP IS AMAZING.
PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY FLY OTHER AIRLINES, THEY'RE LIKE, OH MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE RELIABILITY WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE.
EVERY OR THE BIG AIRPORTS THAT WE FLY TO, WE'RE NUMBER ONE EVERYWHERE WE FLY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL OF IT IS SERVICE.
WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS.
WE SAY WE'RE ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE AND UNITING THE WORLD.
AND OUR PEOPLE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
YOU KNOW, I TELL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS, PEOPLE WORK IN THE AIRPORT OR ANSWER THE PHONES WHEN YOU CALL THAT THEY'RE THE, THE HEART OF UNITED AIRLINES BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFICULT THAT HAPPENS, YOU'RE STANDING AT ONE OF THESE GATES AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, IT'S NEVER THEIR FAULT.
UM, AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY MAY NOT EVEN, A LOT OF THE TIMES, AT LEAST THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES REALLY ARE.
UM, BUT THEY GOTTA TRY TO HELP AND DEAL WITH IT AND HELP YOU.
[00:15:01]
A GREAT JOB.OUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE THE FACE OF UNITED AIRLINES, AND I TELL OUR THEY SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR CUSTOMERS THAN ANYONE.
AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT UNITED IS MORE ABOUT HOW THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS MAKE YOU FEEL THAN ANYTHING.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT MATTERS AS MUCH AS YOU WALK ON AN AIRPLANE.
THERE'S TWO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS IN THE GALLEY THAT ARE SMILING, THAT ARE POSITIVE, THAT CARE.
AND YOU CAN TELL THEY WANT TO BE THERE AND THEY WANT TO HELP YOU.
THEY WANT TO MAKE THINGS GOOD FOR YOU.
THEY'RE FRIENDLY AND THEY CARE.
UH, THERE'S JUST NOTHING WE CAN DO.
AND YOU SORT OF PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.
UM, AND THAT'S HOW UNITED, UH, IS THE BEST.
YOU KNOW, FUEL PRICES ARE UP $8 BILLION FOR US THIS YEAR.
AND YET, YOU KNOW, WE REPORTED EARNINGS TODAY.
WE'RE STILL SOLIDLY PROFITABLE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE AS MUCH AS WE DID LAST YEAR IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
UH, BUT WE'RE STILL SOLIDLY PROFITABLE.
IT REALLY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE FOCUSED ON WINNING CUSTOMERS AND A GREAT INVESTMENT.
LIKE THIS IS JUST PART AND PARCEL, UH, OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST, MAKE TRAVEL EASIER FOR CUSTOMERS, MAKE IT FEEL BETTER, MAKE THE EXPERIENCE GREAT.
UH, AND I AM INCREDIBLY, UH, PROUD OF THE UNITED TEAM, UH, FOR THE, EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO GET HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, UH, TODAY FOR THIS CELEBRATION.
UH, AND, UH, IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE.
UH, TO INTRO, INTRODUCE THE PARTNER.
I ALREADY REFERRED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHAT THEY DID.
UH, BUT ONE OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS, WE REALLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS, COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THIS DONE IN 33 MONTHS UNLESS WE HAD THE SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER COMING UP.
I JUST WANNA STAND HERE AND SMILE FOR A MINUTE,
'CAUSE THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FOR UNITED AIRLINES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING A STATEMENT TODAY, AND IT'LL LEAVE HERE TODAY THAT HOUSTON IS A CAN-DO CITY AND COLLABORATING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE CAN GET IT DONE THE 33 MONTHS ON TIME.
SCOTT DIDN'T SAY, BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE TIME I TOOK OFFICE
NO, WE'VE MONITORED THIS VERY CAREFULLY, MONITORED IT VERY CAREFULLY.
YOU KNOW, ALL MAJOR CITIES HAVE CHALLENGES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN HOUSTON, WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE COLLABORATION, IT'S OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE CON CONGRESS PERSON, GARCIA, BUT CERTAINLY THE TEAM FROM UNITED AIRLINES AND CERTAINLY THE ADMINISTRATION OF JIM SEISM ACT AND OUR AIRLINE AIRPORT ADMINISTRATION.
YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST A TEAM EFFORT.
WE'RE GONNA LEAVE HERE SPREADING THE WORDS.
AND WHAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND IS HOW USER-FRIENDLY IT IS.
I TOLD SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PROPER TO INVITE EVERYONE TO GO USE THE RESTROOM
THE RESTROOMS ARE OUTSTANDING.
AND SO IT'S JUST, LIKE I SAID WHEN I GOT UP HERE, BRANDON, CONGRATULATIONS.
I TOLD YOU WHEN I MET YOU WHILE AGO, YOU'RE ABOUT THE FIFTH PERSON THAT'S TAKEN CREDIT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS TERMINAL.
BUT OBVIOUSLY I WAS TAUGHT A LONG TIME AGO BY A MEAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE NINETIES.
HE'D SAY, IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN GET DONE IF YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHO'S GETTING THE CREDIT.
AND I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE TODAY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY COLLABORATION.
IT'S A STATEMENT THAT HOUSTON IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
PLEASE WELCOME CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA.
ALRIGHT, IF Y'ALL DIDN'T GET THAT STRAIGHT, THERE'S AN EMERGENCY CALL 9 1 1.
BUT IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, CALL MAYOR WHITMEYER
UH, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY THAT WELCOMES THE WORLD.
AND SO FOR MANY PEOPLE, THAT BEGINS RIGHT HERE AT BUSH AIRPORT.
I KNOW EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN 'CAUSE DRIVE IN, 'CAUSE BEING IN CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, I, I COMMUTE.
SO MY FLY UNITED, UM, OVER AND BACK, UH, EVERY WEEK WHEN WE'RE IN SESSION.
BUT EVERY TIME I SEE THAT ICON FLAGS THAT WERE PUT THERE, UM, AFTER THE SUMMIT BACK IN THE NINETIES UNDER THE FIRST WHITMEYER, UH, IT'S JUST REMINDS YOU OF THE ROLE HOUSTON PLAYS IN THE GLOBAL, GLOBAL ECONOMY, IN THE GLOBAL, UH, ENERGY THAT COMES WITH BEING A GREAT CITY.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS CONTINUING TO EMBRACE THAT AND KEEPING THOSE LOVELY FLAGS.
[00:20:01]
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S SO INVITING.UH, AND I GO TO MANY OTHER AIRPORTS AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS ANYTHING, UH, LIKE WE DO.
WHERE IS, UM, SCOTT, DID HE, DID HE LEAVE US ALREADY? I WANNA MAKE ST.
SCOTT AND THE ENTIRE UNITED TEAM, UH, FOR WORKING ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR ALL OF US.
IT MEANS BETTER FACILITIES AND AN EASIER TRAVEL EXPERIENCE.
BUT FOR ME, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE INVESTMENT IN WHAT IT MEANS FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR AREA.
I, UH, REMINDED SOME OF YOUR TEAM, UH, THAT I WAS CITY CONTROLLER BACK IN THOSE NINETIES.
UH, AND I STILL REMEMBER THE CONTINENTAL AND THE CONTINENTAL FINANCES THAT WE HAD TO DO TO BUILD UP THIS AIRPORT AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER.
SO NOW I'M LOOKING FORWARD, UM, TO REPRESENTING THIS AIRPORT, UH, AS YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHEN THE LINES CHANGE AFTER MY REELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
WELL, THAT'S TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
UH, SO FOR ME, THE GEOGRAPHY HAS CHANGED, BUT MY COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS CITY CONTINUES TO GROW IT, IT CONTINUES TO BRING GOOD JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND A STRONGER ECONOMY CONTINUES.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE HOUSTON IS GROWING MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE TO LIVE, TO, UH, UH, MAKE A FAMILY AND TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.
WE NEED AN AIRPORT THAT CAN KEEP UP WITH THAT GROWTH AND HELP OUR CITY COM REMAIN COMPETITIVE FOR YEARS TO COME.
I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO SEE A FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUDING THE NEW SENSORY ROOM AND BETTER ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRAVELERS FOR DISABILITIES, BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES TO TRAVEL WITH COMFORT AND WITH DIGNITY.
BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILT IT.
SO WE NEED TO BE THANKFUL TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THE ELECTRICIANS, THE THE SKILLED TRAITS, PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO HELP YOU GET THE THE JOB DONE RIGHT, BRANDON? ABSOLUTELY.
WITHOUT THEM, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
SO LET'S REMEMBER OUR, ALL OUR WORKERS.
ALSO, I WANNA THANK UNITED AIRLINES, HOUSTON AIRPORTS, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THE MANAGER, THE THE DEPARTMENT HEAD WILL SPEAK AFTER ME, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND ALL OUR PARTNERS FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR KNOWING THE RETURN THAT YOU COULD GET ON THIS INVESTMENT BECAUSE WHILE THIS TERMINAL, UH, CONSTRUCTION DID NOT INCLUDE FEDERAL DOLLARS, IT INCLUDE UNITED DOLLARS AND CITY DOLLARS.
SO MAYOR, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A GOOD RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.
AND AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST IN HOUSTON, OUR BUSINESSES AND THE NEXT GENERATION, THAT IS A GOOD RETURN.
SO HOUSTON IS THE CITY OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE.
WE DREAM BIG, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE KNOW HOW TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GET IT DONE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE, INTO THE ENTIRE TEAM FROM THE PEOPLE WHO GREETED US UP FRONT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL CLEAN AFTER US.
THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
AND GOD BLESS, PLEASE WELCOME DIRECTOR OF AVIATION HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
JIM SNYK, OUR ALL RIGHT, IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE HERE.
I LOVE OPENING NEW FACILITIES.
UM, SO IF WE THINK ABOUT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, OUR VISION IS TO BE A FIVE STAR GLOBAL AIR SERVICE GATEWAY, A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR HOUSTONIANS AND THE ACTIVELY PREFERRED CONNECTING POINT FOR TRAVELERS.
AND I THINK THIS FACILITY HIT THE MARK, RIGHT? I THINK THE MAYOR AND I WOULD AGREE THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT IF HOUSTONIANS ARE GONNA BE VERY PROUD OF THIS FACILITY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT CONNECTING TRAVELER IS GONNA LOVE THIS TO BE ABLE TO COME THROUGH AND CONNECT, UH, HERE.
AND THIS ABSOLUTELY IS A FIVE STAR FACILITY, AND, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR CUSTOMERS, RIGHT? THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO WELCOME THIS IN THIS NEW FACILITY.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THEN ALSO TO THE AIRLINES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE CAN SET THE PACE OF OUR REGIONAL STRATEGY AND YOUR AIRLINE STRATEGY.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE GOT THIS DONE IN 33 MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO HELP US COLLECTIVELY, UH, BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
I KNOW SCOTT'S A LITTLE COMPETITIVE AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A FIGHT IN THE AIR, UH, BUT THAT FIGHT IN THE AIR CAN BE WON ON THE GROUND WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WE BUILT HERE TODAY.
AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I THANK THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TEAM THAT, UH, COLLABORATED ON THIS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY OUR, OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND OUR OPERATIONS TEAM THAT WE'RE HERE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH UNITED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING GOT DONE, UH, FOR
[00:25:01]
BRANDON AND FOR ROB AND MIKE AND CHRIS AND KAYLA AND LISA, AND THE REST OF THE CORPORATE REAL ESTATE TEAM.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS GREAT FACILITY.
UM, THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES TO BE PROUD OF.
AND I WANT TO THANK ROB WALKER, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HE TOOK ALL THE GRAY HAIR FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, BUT, AND, AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
SO, UM, FOR PHIL, UH, FOR KUSH, ANDY, DANIEL, AND THE CREW, THE THE I-A-H-A-I-I-H-A-I-A-H STATION, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THIS NEW FACILITY AND I KNOW THAT UNITED IS REALLY WORKING ON BRAND LOYALTY AND THIS FACILITY IS GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP YOU GET THOSE BRAND LOYAL CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE HOUSTON, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST LOCALLY, BUT ALSO AGAIN THAT CONNECTING TRAFFIC.
AND THEN FOR SCOTT AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT, HOUSTON.
UH, THIS IS A FACILITY THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
AND THEN I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER, I GOT A LOT OF LAND HERE.
I GOT A LOT MORE DEVELOPMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
SO AS UNITED CONTINUES TO GROW, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN US READY TO GROW WITH YOU.
PLEASE WELCOME CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, HOUSTON FOOD BANK, JULIE VOSS.
FIRST, YOU'RE PROBABLY LIKE, WHY IS THE FOOD BANK HERE? SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TODAY, AND IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US.
I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE UNITED AND EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED BRING THIS BEAUTIFUL TERMINAL BEE TO LIFE.
IT IS AN EXCITING MILESTONE, NOT ONLY FOR UNITED AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, BUT ALL THE MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS WHO WILL COME THROUGH THIS TERMINAL FOR THE YEARS TO COME.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE HONORED TO STAND BESIDE THE EMPLOYEES, THE CONTRACTORS, THE PARTNERS, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ALL MADE THIS VISION A REALITY.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO CALL UNITED A PARTNER WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THROUGH GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND IN KIND TRAVEL TOTALING MORE THAN $150,000 A YEAR.
AND THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF UNITED EMPLOYEES LIKE OUR BOARD MEMBER, JONATHAN BOSWELL, WHO I THINK IS OUT HERE SOMEWHERE, AND THE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THIS SPIRIT OF SERVICE FIRSTHAND.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I ATTENDED UNITED'S INTERNATIONAL TECH OP CONFERENCE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, AS PART OF THEIR SEASON OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSEMBLED 3000 HYGIENE BAGS FOR THE FOOD BANK TO DISTRIBUTE TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF UNITED EMPLOYEES COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE TO SAY, I ALSO HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO UNITED, MY DAUGHTER MAGGIE, WHO IS ALSO OUT HERE SOMEWHERE, WAY OVER IN THE CORNER, IS A SYSTEMS ENGINEER IN THE TECH OPS DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN I THINK ABOUT UNITED'S COMMITMENT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST TO THE EMPLOYEES, BUT IT IS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND IT ALSO MAKES TODAY ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE THIS MILESTONE TO CELEBRATE IT WITH A COMPANY THAT IS VALUED COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH THE FOOD BANK, BUT ALSO PART OF MY FAMILY'S HISTORY AND STORY, MAKES IT VERY EXCITING.
YOU KNOW, AT THE FOOD BANK, WE SERVE 18 COUNTIES ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED FOOD TO MORE THAN A MILLION NEIGHBORS WHO WERE IN NEED, AND THAT WAS WITH 143 MILLION MEALS.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT BY OURSELVES.
WE RELY ON PARTNERS LIKE UNITED, WHO RECOGNIZE THAT A STRONG COMMUNITY IS BUILT WHEN BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND INDIVIDUALS ALL COME TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT MAKES TODAY EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
THIS BEAUTIFUL TERMINAL IS MORE THAN AN INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON AND OUR FUTURE FOR MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS.
IT WILL BE THE FRONT DOOR TO OUR CITY AND A REFLECTION OF THE INNOVATION, THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THE GENEROSITY THAT MAKE HOUSTON SUCH A REMARKABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
AND AS OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROW, SO DOES THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING, OF ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE THE
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OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT UNITED WORKS EVERY DAY ALONG WITH US IN THIS EFFORT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE ENTIRE UNITED TEAM AND EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON, YOUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL CALL HOME.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT THINGS TOGETHER, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK PHIL GRIFFITH.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I REALLY JUST WANT YOU TO DO ONE BIG THING.
WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR COWORKERS WHAT YOU SAW FOR YEARS.
THE CHAT IS ABOUT THE THING THAT DIDN'T GO WELL AT IAH, RIGHT? THE ROADS THAT WERE BACKED UP, UH, THE LINES THAT WERE OUT THE DOOR, THOSE DAYS ARE BEHIND US, RIGHT? AND I FEEL GREAT ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR ME TO PUT INTO WORDS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS BECAUSE IT'S JUST THAT AWESOME.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS TO, UM, WALK AROUND, TALK WITH EACH OTHER, SEE AS MUCH OF THE FACILITY AS YOU CAN, AND, UM, ENJOY ALL THAT WE PUT INTO IT.
UM, THE UNITED CLUB IN PARTICULAR IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT TO SEE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.