Jazmin Li
Houston, the largest city in Texas, is served by two major airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The former is the largest airport in Houston, located 23 miles north of Downtown Houston, while the latter is a smaller, more convenient option for domestic flights, situated just 11 miles from the city.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Major Airports | 2 |
| Names of Airports | George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport |
| Former Names | Houston Intercontinental Airport, Houston International Airport |
| IATA Code | IAH |
| ICAO Code | KIAH |
| FAA LID | IAH |
| Location | 23 miles north of Downtown Houston |
| Area | 10,000 acres |
| Number of Runways | 5 |
| Number of Terminals | 5 |
| Airlines | United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Texas International Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways |
| Annual Passengers | 43 million (2015) |
| Notable Incidents | 1996: landing with landing gear stowed, 1998: Learjet crash, 2019: Atlas Air Flight 3591 crash |
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What You'll Learn
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston has two major airports, forming the fourth-largest airport system in the country. One of these is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, initially called the Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969. It was renamed in 1997 to honour George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. It is also referred to as the Houston International Airport or the George Bush International Airport.
The airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59. It has direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway. The George Bush Intercontinental 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 and 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, while Terminal B is used for United Express flights and Terminal C for United domestic flights. Terminal D is used for non-United international flights, and Terminal E is used for United international flights and international arrivals.
The airport offers a variety of transfer and transportation options. Various hotels and lodgings offer courtesy vans to their properties, and the public bus route 102 serves the airport and downtown locations. The airport also has Wi-Fi, retail stores, and more than 50 food and beverage outlets, including Starbucks and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
In 2020, the airport began a $1.3 billion capital improvement programme called the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP). The flagship project is the construction of the Mickey Leland International Terminal (MLIT), which will consolidate Terminals D and E into one centralised terminal. The ITRP is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025.
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William P. Hobby Airport
The airport is located about 7 miles south of Downtown Houston and offers various transport options. There are public bus routes serving the airport, as well as courtesy vans operated by various hotels and motels in the area. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are also available at the airport. William P. Hobby Airport has Wi-Fi internet, retail stores, and more than 15 food and beverage outlets. The original art deco terminal building now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. In 2022, the airport became the first 5-Star Airport in North America by Skytrax.
Houston Airports, which manages William P. Hobby Airport, has made significant strides in sustainability. Between 2019 and 2022, the airport saw a 22% reduction in emissions, reflecting operational improvements and broader modernization efforts. This includes upgrades to energy systems, electric vehicle integration, and more efficient terminal practices. Houston Airports is converting its light-duty fleet to electric vehicles, and passengers now have access to electric vehicle charging stations in parking garages and ecopark lots.
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Transport options to and from the airport
Houston has two major airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport. Houston Airport System (HAS) manages and operates both airports, as well as Ellington Airport and Houston Spaceport.
Houston's airport system is the fourth-largest in the country, serving over 180 cities worldwide. Bush Intercontinental Airport is the largest airport in Houston, with more than 700 daily departures and 43 million domestic passengers in 2015.
When travelling to and from Houston's airports, visitors have multiple transport options:
- Taxi – The recommended option if you have a lot of luggage. It takes around 40 minutes to get from Houston Airport to downtown Houston by taxi.
- Public bus – The public bus route 102 serves IAH and downtown locations. The service runs seven days a week, from 5 am until midnight.
- Hotel courtesy vans – Various hotels and lodgings offer courtesy vans to and from the airport. You can use the courtesy telephones in the baggage claim area to request a pick-up.
- Shuttle bus – Houston Airport is equipped with several shuttle buses to help you transfer from the airport to downtown Houston. You can book a shuttle in advance with GroundShuttle.com or Galveston Express.
- Underground train – All five terminals at Bush Intercontinental Airport are connected by an underground train.
- Rental car – You can rent a car at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at Houston Airport.
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The airport's history
Houston has two major airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. Together, they form the fourth-largest airport system in the country.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in June 1969, the airport was renamed in April 1997 after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. The airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston and offers scheduled 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 second-busiest airport in Texas as of 2021.
William P. Hobby Airport
The William P. Hobby Airport, originally known as Houston Municipal Airport, opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre (240-ha) pasture known as W.T. Carter Field. In 1937, the site was acquired by the city of Houston and renamed Houston Municipal Airport. The airport was renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport in 1938, but the name was changed back to Houston Municipal because regulations did not allow federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person. In 1940, a new air terminal and hangar were opened, and in 1943, the first three Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) training classes were held at the airport. In 1948, Braniff International Airways began offering international flights from Houston to South America, and in 1950, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) started nonstop service to Mexico City. In 1954, the airport was renamed Houston International Airport, and by the late 1950s, it was serving as a hub for several major airlines, including Eastern, Braniff, and Delta.
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Food and beverage outlets
Houston has two major airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). Both airports offer a variety of food and beverage outlets to cater to the millions of travellers who pass through their gates each year.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
IAH is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 46 million travellers annually. The airport offers a wide range of dining options, from quick bites to upscale sit-down meals.
For coffee lovers, IAH has multiple Starbucks locations offering a variety of beverages and lunch items such as baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, and fresh fruit. Another option for coffee and a quick bite is the well-known Texas burger joint, Whataburger, located at Gate B1.
If you're looking for a sit-down meal, there are several great options at IAH. The Annie Cafe & Bar in Terminal D is an iconic Houston restaurant that offers all-day dining with a menu crafted by James Beard Award-winning chef Robert del Grande. The menu features classics like crab tostadas, seafood campechana, and newer items like cochinita pibil-style chicken wings and Texas redfish cooked in banana leaves.
For those who enjoy comfort food and a good beer selection, the Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard at Gate A26 is a popular choice, serving up burgers topped with bacon and hand-cut fries. If you're craving pizza, Pala at Gate C5 serves up oven-fired pizzas with creative and classic toppings, and Blaze Pizza at Gate A7 offers fast-casual pizza and breakfast options.
Other dining options at IAH include Ember in Terminal C, offering hand-cut steaks and Gulf seafood dishes, and Olio, a restaurant by James Beard Award-nominated chef Monica Pope that focuses on locally sourced produce.
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
HOU airport also offers a variety of food and beverage outlets, with more than 15 options to choose from. While specific restaurant information for HOU is limited, travellers can expect to find options for quick bites and sit-down meals, similar to IAH.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two major airports in Houston, forming the 4th largest airport system in the country: Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.
Bush Intercontinental Airport is the largest airport in Houston, covering 10,000 acres of land. It is also the busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic.
William P. Hobby Airport is much better for domestic flights as it is smaller and quicker to get to and from the city.
