Ruth Haines
William P. Hobby Airport, colloquially referred to as Houston Hobby, is an international airport located in Harris County, Texas. Houston Hobby is situated 7 miles from downtown Houston and is the city's oldest commercial airport. The airport covers 1,304 acres of land and has three runways. Houston Hobby is also an operating base for Southwest Airlines, which carries the majority of its passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | William P. Hobby Airport |
| Colloquial Name | Houston Hobby |
| Location | Harris County, Texas |
| Distance from Downtown Houston | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Area | 1,304 acres (528 ha) |
| Runways | 3 |
| Terminal Building | Art deco style |
| Bus Connections | 40 Telephone/Heights, 50 Broadway, 73 Bellfort |
| Airlines | Southwest, Braniff, Texas International, Hughes Airwest, Ozark Air Lines, Frontier |
| Year Opened | June 1927 |
| Year Became International Airport | 2012 |
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What You'll Learn
- William P. Hobby Airport is located in Harris County, Texas, 7 miles from downtown Houston
- Colloquially, the airport is referred to as Houston Hobby
- Hobby Airport opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture
- Southwest Airlines has a strong presence at the airport, with international and domestic flights
- The airport features an original art deco terminal building, now home to the 1940 Air Terminal Museum
William P. Hobby Airport is located in Harris County, Texas, 7 miles from downtown Houston
The William P. Hobby Airport, often referred to as Houston Hobby, is located in Harris County, Texas. It is situated 7 miles from downtown Houston, in the locality of Gulf Freeway Oaks and Glenbrook Valley, and 2.5 miles west of the city of South Houston. The airport covers 1,304 acres and has three runways.
Houston Hobby is Houston's oldest commercial airport, having first opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture known as W.T. Carter Field. It was served by Braniff International Airways and Eastern Air Lines in the 1930s, and the site was acquired by the city of Houston and renamed Houston Municipal Airport in 1937. The airport was renamed again in 1938 to Howard R. Hughes Airport, after Howard Hughes, who was responsible for several improvements to the airport, including the construction of its first control tower.
Houston Hobby was Houston's primary airport until 1969 when the Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport) opened. After this, Hobby Airport was closed for several years before reopening as a secondary airport for domestic airline service and a hub for corporate and private aviation. Today, it is an operating base for Southwest Airlines, which offers both international and domestic flights from Houston Hobby. The airport also serves other airlines, including Frontier Airlines, which began operating direct flights to Cancun, Las Vegas, and Orlando in May 2022.
Houston Hobby has continued to expand and improve its facilities over the years. In 2012, Houston's city council approved Southwest's request for international flights from the airport, leading to a terminal expansion that added five new gates and a new parking garage. More recently, in March 2022, Southwest announced a $250 million expansion project to add seven gates to the west concourse, with the city of Houston contributing $20 million. The project is expected to take five years to complete.
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Colloquially, the airport is referred to as Houston Hobby
The William P. Hobby Airport, located in Harris County, Texas, is colloquially referred to as Houston Hobby. The airport is situated 7 miles (11 kilometres) from downtown Houston and is Houston's oldest commercial airport. Hobby Airport first opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture known as W.T. Carter Field. In the 1930s, it was served by Braniff International Airways and Eastern Air Lines. The airport has undergone several name changes throughout its history, including being named Houston Municipal Airport in 1937 and Howard R. Hughes Airport in 1938, before settling on its current official name, William P. Hobby Airport.
Houston Hobby is a significant hub for air travel in the region, serving as an operating base for Southwest Airlines, which offers both international and domestic flights from the airport. As of December 2017, the airport was the fifth-largest in Southwest's network. The airline has invested substantially in the airport's expansion, including a $156 million project in 2012 to add five new gates and construct a new parking garage, as well as a $250 million project announced in 2022 to add seven more gates to the west concourse.
Houston Hobby has also received recognition for its facilities and services. In 2022, it became the first 5-Star Airport in North America, as rated by Skytrax. The airport's original art deco terminal building, which was the first passenger airline terminal in Houston, now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. The museum showcases the history of aviation and the airport's development over time.
The airport is easily accessible via various transportation options, including bus services. Currently, four bus lines serve Hobby Airport, providing connections to nearby areas such as Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown Houston, and Fannin South Transit Center, where passengers can connect to the Metro Rail Red Line. These convenient transportation links make travelling to and from the airport efficient for both locals and visitors alike.
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Hobby Airport opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture
William P. Hobby Airport, also known as Houston Hobby, is an international airport located in Houston, Texas, approximately seven miles from downtown Houston. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport, opening in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture known as W.T. Carter Field. Texas businessman and city council member, W. T. Carter, Jr., purchased the property in South Houston with the intention of building Houston's first airport. After his proposal was rejected by the city council, Carter took matters into his own hands and constructed the airport himself on his newly acquired land.
In its early days, the airport served as a landing strip for airmail planes and provided aerial surveys. The WR-4 Hangar, considered Houston's oldest aviation structure, was opened in 1928 and later used by Eastern Airlines as a maintenance base. The original art deco terminal building, the first passenger airline terminal in Houston, now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
The site was officially acquired by the city of Houston a decade later in 1937 and expanded to 1,240 acres. The airport was renamed Houston Municipal Airport, and its wooden structure was replaced by a more permanent building. Along with commercial operations, the facility played a role during World War II as a training site for the Women's Flying Training Detachment.
Over time, the airport underwent various improvements and expansions. In 1938, it was briefly renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport after Howard Hughes, who was responsible for significant enhancements, including the construction of its first control tower. However, the airport's name was changed back to Houston Municipal as regulations did not allow federal improvement funds to be used for an airport named after a living person.
In 1969, with the opening of the Houston Intercontinental Airport (now known as the George Bush Intercontinental Airport), Hobby Airport was initially closed. However, it reopened a few years later as a secondary airport for domestic airline service and a hub for corporate and private aviation. Despite facing competition from the new international airport, Hobby Airport persevered and continued to expand and serve the aviation needs of Houston and its surrounding areas.
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Southwest Airlines has a strong presence at the airport, with international and domestic flights
William P. Hobby Airport, also known as Houston Hobby, is an international airport located in Houston, Texas, just 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Houston. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport, and Southwest Airlines has a strong presence there, with both international and domestic flights.
Southwest Airlines has a long history at Hobby Airport, dating back to the 1970s when it began offering nonstop flights to various destinations within Texas and beyond. Over the years, Southwest has expanded its operations at the airport, becoming an integral part of its growth and development. In 2012, Houston's city council approved Southwest's request to operate international flights from Hobby, and the airline opened its first international terminal there in 2015. This expansion solidified Southwest's strong presence at the airport and transformed Hobby into a significant gateway for international travel.
As of 2017, Houston Hobby was the fifth-largest airport in Southwest's network, showcasing the airline's commitment to the location. Southwest has continued to invest in the airport's infrastructure, including a $250 million expansion project announced in 2022 to add seven gates to the west concourse. Six of these gates will be dedicated exclusively to Southwest's domestic flights, further enhancing their dominance at the airport.
Southwest Airlines offers a range of convenient and affordable travel options from Hobby Airport, catering to various traveller preferences. With their extensive network, passengers can explore diverse destinations across the globe, including popular cities like Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and Denver. Southwest's presence at Hobby Airport provides travellers with easy access to major urban centres, cultural hotspots, and natural wonders, both within the United States and internationally.
The airline's strong presence at Hobby Airport is further highlighted by their commitment to providing a unique and exceptional travel experience. Southwest offers various incentives, such as the opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards® points when flying or renting a car, making their loyalty program highly attractive to frequent travellers. Additionally, Southwest prides itself on its customer-centric approach, aiming to make the booking process as simple and straightforward as possible.
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The airport features an original art deco terminal building, now home to the 1940 Air Terminal Museum
The William P. Hobby Airport, colloquially referred to as Houston Hobby, is an international airport in Houston, Texas, located 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Houston. Covering 1,304 acres (528 ha), Hobby Airport has three runways and a single terminal with two concourses (one domestic and one international) and 30 gates overall. The airport is recognised for its original art deco terminal building, which now serves as the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
The art deco terminal building was the first passenger airline terminal in Houston. Designed by architect Joseph Finger, the terminal was constructed to support Houston's growing role as a centre for air commerce in the late 1930s. The terminal remained Houston's sole commercial air terminal until 1954, after which it underwent various tenants until 1978. During this period, the building witnessed the evolution of air travel, with passengers dressing in their finest attire and boarding prop liners like the Douglas DC-3 and the Lockheed Constellation.
In 1978, Hobby Airport manager James Delong proposed demolishing the 1940 terminal to create more ramp space. However, this initiative was blocked by enthusiasts who recognised the building's historical and architectural significance. Despite their efforts, the terminal fell into a state of disrepair, described as ""very shabby" in 1988. It remained unoccupied for nearly two decades.
In 1998, the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society (HAHS), a non-profit organisation, was established with the primary goal of preserving the threatened terminal building. Through their dedication, the terminal was transformed into the 1940 Air Terminal Museum, showcasing collections that celebrate Houston's civil aviation history. The museum is a recognised Texas 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisation, funded by grants, private donations, and a Members' Program.
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum has received numerous accolades, including the Good Brick Award for excellence in preservation in 2010 and being designated a Historic Aerospace Site by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The museum continues to be a cherished piece of aviation history, providing a glimpse into the golden age of air travel through its art deco architecture and exhibits.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, William P. Hobby Airport is in Harris County, Texas.
Hobby Airport is located 7 miles from downtown Houston.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, or METRO, stops at Curb Zone 3 at the airport.
The airport's original art deco terminal building now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
