Houston's Airport Network: How Many Are There?

Houston, Texas, is served by several airports, with three major airports in and around the city: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the US and has a significant aerospace industry, so it's no surprise that it is home to multiple airports.

Houston Airports

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

The airport has five terminals and 121 total gates. The Skyway automated people mover system provides airside connections between all five terminals. The Subway provides landside connections between the five terminals and the airport hotel. Terminals D & E have access to an international arrivals facility, and Terminal D has gates to support super jumbo jets, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.

Terminal A is primarily used by non-United domestic carriers and contains 20 gates. Terminal B is used for United Express flights and has 30 gates. Terminal C is used for United domestic flights and has 29 gates. Terminal D is used for non-United international flights and has 18 gates. Terminal E is used for United international flights and has 24 gates.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport ranks as the best U.S. airport and the second-best in North America at the World Airport Awards. It is also 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 served more than 40 million passengers in 2022, including more than 9 million international passengers.

The Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental is a convenient and comfortable hotel option, directly connected to IAH Airport via tram. The hotel offers on-site parking, a free shuttle, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, and spacious accommodations.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)

Houston, Texas, is served by three airports that are managed and operated by the Houston Airport System: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD). In this article, we will be focusing on the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

HOU offers air service to 86 destinations across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airport provides a pleasant experience for travellers with amenities such as Wi-Fi, retail stores, and over 15 food and beverage outlets. Airlines serving HOU include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines.

For transportation to and from the airport, taxis are readily available outside the baggage claim area in Curb Zone 2. Approximate taxi fares from HOU are $29 to the downtown area, $35 to NRG Park and the Texas Medical Center, $59 to Uptown/Galleria, and $41 to the NASA Space Center. There are also rental car agencies with counters at the airport, and various hotels offer courtesy vans for transportation to their properties. Additionally, public transportation is an option, with bus route 40 serving HOU and downtown locations.

Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD)

Houston, Texas, is served by several airports due to its status as the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Houston Airport System manages and operates three of these airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).

History

Ellington Airport, formerly known as Ellington Field, was established by the Army Air Service on May 21, 1917, as one of the initial World War I Army Air Service installations when aviation was still in its infancy. It is named for 1st Lt. Eric Ellington, a U.S. Army aviator who died in a plane crash in 1913. The airport is one of the few airfields built for World War I training purposes that is still in operation.

In the late 1960s, the City of Houston annexed Ellington Field, and in 2009, the Houston City Council approved a name change to Ellington Airport. The airport is owned by the City of Houston's Department of Aviation, Houston Airport System, and is located 17 miles southeast of downtown Houston.

Operations and Facilities

The airport does not have scheduled commercial passenger service, but it does serve as a reliever airport for both Bush Intercontinental and the William P. Hobby Airport, handling diverted aircraft during bad weather and peak traffic times. In 2022, the airport recorded 115,958 aircraft operations, with an average of 317 per day.

Spaceport Status

Houston Spaceport, located at Ellington Airport, is the nation's 10th licensed commercial spaceport. The city council approved Phase 1 of the project in October 2018, allocating $18.8 million for infrastructure improvements. The Phase 1 Development includes the Houston Spaceport Innovation Lab, which provides a collaborative campus for STEM companies. Additionally, a new control tower has been constructed, featuring dedicated mission control facilities for commercial spaceflight operators.

The spaceport has attracted several aerospace companies, including Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Venus Aerospace, and Collins Aerospace. These companies are involved in various projects, such as space station development, lunar lander designs, and the creation of a spaceplane capable of travelling 12 times faster than the speed of sound.

David Wayne Hooks Airport

Houston, Texas, is served by multiple airports due to its status as the fourth-largest city in the United States. One of these airports is the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, often shortened to David Wayne Hooks Airport. This airport is located near the city of Tomball in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, and is about 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Houston's central business district.

The history of the airport is an interesting one. It began when Charles Hooks built a runway for his personal use, which eventually turned into a business. He then constructed a main terminal building, and the airport was opened for public use in the 1960s. The airport was originally named Houston Northwest Airport, but it was later renamed after Hooks' son, David, who was killed in a small plane crash at the age of 15. Following Charles Hooks' retirement and sale of the airport in 1989, a series of fires in 2009 and 2010 destroyed several aircraft and a large hangar.

Today, David Wayne Hooks Airport continues to be a busy general aviation hub, serving a variety of aircraft and providing a range of services for pilots and passengers alike.

Houston's airport transport options

Houston, Texas, is served by several airports, the largest of which is George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The Houston Airport System also manages William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).

Getting to and from the Airport

There are several transport options for getting to and from Houston's airports.

By Car

Houston's airports are accessible by road, with IAH reachable from Interstate 45, US Highway 59 (Interstate 69), the Hardy Toll Road, and the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8). Car rental is available at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at IAH, with major companies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Thrifty represented.

By Public Transport

The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) offers local bus services to and from IAH and HOU. The METRO Bus 102 serves IAH and continues to downtown Houston, taking between 50 and 90 minutes. The fare is $1.25, and passengers can stow luggage in the baggage compartment. To get from IAH to HOU, passengers can take the METRO Bus 102 downtown and then transfer to the METRO Bus 40. The total fare for this journey is $2.50.

By Taxi

Taxis are available at Houston's airports and can be a convenient option, especially if you have a lot of luggage. The journey time from IAH to downtown Houston by taxi is approximately 40 minutes.

By Shuttle

Several companies offer shuttle services to and from Houston's airports, including SuperShuttle Express and ExecuCar. These services provide door-to-door transportation and can be booked in advance, offering stress-free travel.

By Tram

The Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport offers a complimentary underground tram service connecting the hotel to the airport terminals.

Frequently asked questions