
Houston Airport System is the 4th largest airport system in the country, serving over 180 cities worldwide. It is composed of three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD). The George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located about 23 miles north of Downtown Houston, is the largest and busiest airport in Houston. It offers a variety of amenities, including Wi-Fi, retail stores, and food and beverage outlets. The William P. Hobby Airport, located about 7 miles south of Downtown, also offers similar amenities and has seen significant growth in passenger numbers. Both airports provide multiple transport options for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports in the system | 3 |
| Names of the airports | George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport |
| Airport codes | IAH, HOU, EFD |
| Location | Houston, Texas, US |
| Distance from Downtown Houston | 23 miles (George Bush Intercontinental Airport), 7 miles (William P. Hobby Airport) |
| Number of terminals | 5 (George Bush Intercontinental Airport), 1 (William P. Hobby Airport) |
| Number of gates | 12 (Terminal A, George Bush Intercontinental Airport), 12 (Terminal D), 17 (Terminal E) |
| Number of passengers | 45 million (2021), 60 million (2019) |
| Number of annual domestic passengers | 43 million (2015, George Bush Intercontinental Airport), 14.5 million (2018, William P. Hobby Airport) |
| Number of daily departures | 700+ (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) |
| Cargo tonnage | 537,560 metric tons (2021), 525,300 metric tons (2019) |
| Amenities | Wi-Fi, retail stores, food and beverage outlets, currency exchange booth, ADA amenities |
| Restaurants | Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels |
| Airlines | AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Braniff International Airways, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Emirates, JetBlue Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, National Airlines, Pan Am, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Texas International Airlines, United Airlines, UPS, Air Transport International, Atlas Air, Cargolux |
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What You'll Learn

George Bush Intercontinental Airport
The airport's IATA code is IAH, derived from the stylization of the airport's original name as the "Intercontinental Airport of Houston." In 1997, the Houston City Council voted to rename the airport after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. The airport is also commonly referred to as Houston International Airport or George Bush International Airport.
The airport also has a mobile app, "Houston Airports," which provides helpful information and wayfinding assistance for travellers navigating their way to their gates or other locations within the airport. Terminal D serves as the dedicated terminal for domestic arrivals, while Terminal E, the newest terminal, handles all United Airlines international flights and some domestic operations.
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William P. Hobby Airport
The airport first opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre (240 ha) pasture known as W.T. Carter Field. In the 1930s, it was served by Braniff International Airways and Eastern Air Lines. The site was acquired by the city of Houston and was named Houston Municipal Airport in 1937. The airport was renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport in 1938, as Howard Hughes was responsible for several improvements to the airport, including the construction of its first control tower. However, the airport's name changed back to Houston Municipal because Hughes was still alive, and regulations did not allow federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person.
In 1966, Houston-based Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) introduced non-stop flights to several destinations, including Dallas Love Field, Corpus Christi, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. That same year, Braniff operated flights via interchange agreements with Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) and United Airlines, offering daily services to London, England, and Frankfurt, Germany. In 1967, the airport was renamed after former Texas governor William P. Hobby.
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Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport
Houston, Texas, is home to the fourth-largest airport system in the country, with the George Bush Intercontinental Airport being the largest airport in Houston. The airport, located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, was initially named 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 Houston resident.
Another airport in Houston is the William P. Hobby Airport, which has seen a significant increase in passenger numbers over the years, reaching 14.5 million travellers in 2018.
Houston is also home to the Ellington Airport, formerly known as Ellington Field. This airport was established by the Army Air Service on May 21, 1917, and is named for 1st Lt. Eric Ellington, a U.S. Army aviator who died in a plane crash in 1913. Ellington Airport is currently used by the military, commercial, NASA aircraft, and general aviation sectors. It is one of the few airfields built for World War I training purposes that is still in operation.
In recent years, Ellington Airport has become home to the Houston Spaceport, the nation's 10th licensed commercial spaceport. Houston Spaceport has generated nearly 2,000 jobs and attracted billions in investments, contributing to the airport system's $40.6 billion economic impact on the region. It serves as a centre for collaboration and innovation, supporting a broad range of commercial endeavours, including aerospace manufacturing, education, and Low Earth Orbit and Lunar Operations activities. The Spaceport also partners with NASA and top universities to foster innovation and exploration in aerospace.
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Transport options
Houston Airport System is the fourth-largest airport system in the country, serving over 180 cities worldwide. It is composed of three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, with direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway. The airport is connected to Downtown Houston via the public bus route 102, which runs seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight. Various hotels also offer courtesy vans for their guests, which can be requested using the courtesy telephones in the baggage claim area.
William P. Hobby Airport is located about 7 miles south of Downtown Houston. It serves domestic destinations and offers various transport options. The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers, reaching 14.5 million travellers in 2018.
David Wayne Hooks Airport is located in Northwest Houston, 5 minutes from The Woodlands via the Grand Parkway. It is also close to Downtown and The Galleria.
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Terminals and gates
Houston Airport System is the fourth-largest airport system in the United States, serving over 180 cities worldwide. It is composed of three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has five terminals connected by an automated people mover and underground train. Terminal A has separate North and South TSA Pre√ queues, while Terminal C North is reserved for United Airlines' TSA Pre✓™, Premier Access, and Global Services passengers. Terminal D serves domestic arrivals, with gates from D7 to D18B, while Terminal E is the newest terminal, serving all United Airlines international flights and some domestic operations from gates E1 to E24.
William P. Hobby Airport, also known as Houston Hobby Airport, has seen significant increases in passenger numbers, reaching 14.5 million travellers in 2018. The airport serves domestic destinations with over 700 daily departures.
Houston Spaceport is a relatively new addition to the Houston Airport System, focusing on commercial space travel and serving as a gateway to space-related industries and research institutions in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Houston Airport System is the name of the airport system that serves Houston, Texas. It is composed of three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has five terminals connected by an automated people-mover and underground train. The airport has Wi-Fi, retail stores, and food and beverage outlets. It also has a Starbucks that offers coffee, iced espresso beverages, and Frappuccinos, as well as lunch items such as sandwiches and salads.
William P. Hobby Airport also has Wi-Fi, retail stores, and food and beverage outlets. It serves domestic destinations and has seen an increase in passenger numbers in recent years.
Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport is the first and only airport in North America to earn a 5-Star Skytrax rating.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic. It is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston and has direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway. The airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969 but was renamed in 1997 after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States.









































