
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH) in Houston, Texas, is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. The airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969, but was renamed in 1997 to honour Bush, who was a resident of Houston. Bush was an aviator and had a full appreciation for the various ways in which the field of aviation could enrich the cultural lives of individuals and maximise the economic potential of entire nations.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
IATA | IAH |
ICAO | KIAH |
FAA LID | IAH |
Location | Houston, Texas, United States |
Distance from Downtown Houston | 23 miles |
Website | fly2houston.com |
Phone Number | 281-230-3100 |
Number of Terminals | 5 |
Number of Gates | 121 |
Number of Passengers (2023) | 46,192,094 |
Number of Lounges | 14 |
Number of Restaurants and Cafeterias | 100+ |
What You'll Learn
- The airport was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States
- The airport is located 23 miles north of downtown Houston, Texas
- The airport has five terminals, all interconnected by the Skyway and Subway
- The airport is a hub for United Airlines and a focus city for Spirit Airlines
- The airport is operated by the Houston Airport System
The airport was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. The airport is located about 23 miles north of downtown Houston and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
The airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969. In 1997, the Houston City Council unanimously voted to rename it after George H. W. Bush. Bush was a resident of Houston and had a strong appreciation for aviation, having become a naval aviator just before his 19th birthday. He also had a deep understanding of the economic potential of the aviation industry, which was reflected in his inaugural address in 1989 when he spoke of "democracy's front porch, a good place to talk as neighbours and friends".
The airport has five terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) and is a hub for United Airlines, as well as a focus city for Spirit Airlines. It offers flights to a large number of domestic and international destinations, covering five continents. It is the busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic and the 15th busiest in the United States for total passenger traffic as of 2022.
The airport provides efficient ground transportation options, including rental cars, ride-sharing services, shuttles, and the Houston METRO bus, making it easy for passengers to travel to and from downtown Houston and the surrounding areas.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is not owned by the Bush family, but by the Houston Airport System, and it serves as a lasting tribute to the former president, who was gracious and humble about the honour.
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The airport is located 23 miles north of downtown Houston, Texas
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located 23 miles (37 km) north of downtown Houston, Texas. The airport is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a resident of Houston.
The airport is accessible by road, with the Hardy Toll Road expressway providing direct access. The airport can also be reached via Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59 (Eastex Freeway) and Interstate 45 (North Freeway).
Houston's public transportation system, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, or METRO, offers bus services to and from the airport. The METRO bus 102 runs from the airport to the downtown Houston METRO station, with the journey taking approximately 50 to 90 minutes.
For those driving to the airport, there are several parking options available, including terminal parking and ecopark parking, which is located further away from the terminals and requires a shuttle bus to reach the airport.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a large airport, covering 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land. It has five terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) that are interconnected by the Skyway automated people mover system and the Subway train. The Skyway provides airside connections between all five terminals, while the Subway provides landside connections.
The airport serves both domestic and international flights, with direct access to five continents. It is a hub for United Airlines and a focus city for Spirit Airlines.
The airport offers a variety of dining, shopping, and lounge options for travellers. There are over 100 restaurants, cafes, and food stations, with most located inside the secure area. The airport also has 14 lounges, including the Centurion Lounge, United Club, and United Airlines Polaris Lounge.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is not only a transportation hub but also a cultural space, featuring various art installations and exhibits. These include "Light Wings" by Ed Carpenter, a multicoloured glass sculpture, and "Countree Music" by Terry Allen, a cast bronze tree that plays instrumental music.
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The airport has five terminals, all interconnected by the Skyway and Subway
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, has five terminals – A, B, C, D, and E – all interconnected by the Skyway and Subway. The Skyway is an above-ground train that runs between all terminals inside the secure area, while the Subway is a below-ground train that runs the length of the airport outside of the secure area. Both trains provide quick and easy connections between terminals.
Terminal A is separate from the other terminals with no access via walkways, while Terminals B, C, D, and E are all connected via walkways inside the secure area. Terminals A, B, and C primarily operate domestic flights, while Terminals D and E operate domestic and international flights.
Terminal A has two departure concourses at the north and south ends, serving a total of 20 gates. There are security checkpoints at the north and south ends leading to the departure concourses, and passengers can access the Skyway on level 3. Terminal B also has north and south departure concourses with a total of 30 gates, and one security checkpoint. To connect to another terminal, passengers can take the Skyway or walk to Terminal C. Terminal C has north and south concourses, serving a total of 29 gates, with a security checkpoint providing access to the secure area. There is also a range of shops and restaurants in this terminal.
Terminal D is the main international terminal, serving flights all over the world. It has 12 gates and a small selection of shops and restaurants, including duty-free shopping. Terminal E is operated exclusively by United Airlines for domestic and international flights. It has 24 gates and a range of restaurants and shops, including duty-free.
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The airport is a hub for United Airlines and a focus city for Spirit Airlines
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is a hub for United Airlines and a focus city for Spirit Airlines. The airport is located in Houston, Texas and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area. It is one of the largest passenger hubs for United Airlines and covers 10,000 acres of land. The airport has five runways and five terminals (A, B, C, D, and E).
United Airlines is a major airline in the United States, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international route network across the United States and all six inhabited continents. United currently operates seven hubs, including Houston-Intercontinental (IAH), which serves as the airline's hub for the South and a gateway to Latin America.
Spirit Airlines, on the other hand, refers to its busiest airports as operating bases rather than hubs. The airline connects some itineraries through these bases but primarily relies on single-leg city-to-city services. Spirit Airlines added Bush Airport as its tenth crew base and focus city in July 2022.
The hub-and-spoke system, employed by United Airlines, allows an airline to serve fewer routes and, therefore, requires fewer aircraft. This system increases passenger loads and offers one-stop air service to a wide array of destinations. However, it often requires passengers to make connections en route to their final destination, increasing travel time.
In contrast, Spirit Airlines' focus on single-leg city-to-city services aligns with a point-to-point model, where there are no hubs, and nonstop flights are offered between cities. This model provides more direct routes and can be more time-efficient for passengers who do not need to connect to other flights.
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The airport is operated by the Houston Airport System
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, is operated by the Houston Airport System. The airport was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969. In 1997, it was renamed to honour George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.
The airport covers 10,000 acres of land and has five runways and five terminals (A, B, C, D, and E). Terminals B to E are connected by walkways inside the secure area, while Terminal A is separate and accessible via the Skyway and subway train services. The Skyway is an above-ground train that runs between all terminals inside the secure area, while the subway is a below-ground train that operates outside of the secure area.
The Houston Airport System has paid tribute to George H.W. Bush since 1997, with his name featured on monument signs, and a hall with a statue and pictorial excerpts from his life in Terminal C. Bush was an aviator himself, achieving the feat of becoming a Naval Aviator three days before his 19th birthday.
The Houston Airport System provides various services and amenities at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, including dining options, shopping, lounges, nursing rooms, family restrooms, pet relief areas, and duty-free shops. The airport also offers efficient ground transportation options, such as rental cars, ride-sharing services, shuttles, and the Houston METRO bus, for easy access to downtown Houston and surrounding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States.
The airport was renamed in 1997, after initially opening in 1969 as Houston Intercontinental Airport.
The airport is owned by the Houston Airport System.
The airport is located in Houston, Texas, United States, about 23 miles north of Downtown Houston.
The airport has 5 terminals, labelled A, B, C, D, and E.