Texas's Top Airports: A Comprehensive Guide

what major airports are in texas

Texas has 393 airports for the public to use, the highest number of airports of any US state. The major international airports in Texas are Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Dallas airport is the main Texas airport and one of the busiest airports in the USA, serving as the main hub for American Airlines. The Houston airport is another major US airport, located 35 km north of Houston. It is the largest point of entry to Texas for international flights and is also one of the busiest US airports, with more than 40 million passengers per year.

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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

DFW Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. It is also the fourth busiest airport in the US, the sixth busiest worldwide, and the busiest in Texas. In 2022 and 2023, it was the second busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving 26,663,984 passengers annually across 46 overseas and 144 domestic destinations. As of April 2023, DFW Airport offers service to more nonstop destinations than any other airport in North America.

The airport has five terminals and is the largest carbon-neutral airport in the world, as well as the first in North America to achieve this status. DFW Airport recently announced new shopping and dining options, including the first 24-hour Chick-fil-A inside a major US airport. The airport is also undergoing a $3 billion plan to overhaul and expand Terminal C, which will add nine new gates in 2026 for American Airlines.

The history of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport dates back to proposals in 1927 for a joint airport between Dallas and Fort Worth. However, Fort Worth declined the initial offer, and each city opened its own airport: Love Field in Dallas and Meacham Field in Fort Worth. In 1940, funding was allocated for the construction of a Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport, but the project was abandoned in 1942 due to disagreements between the governments of Dallas and Fort Worth. After World War II, Fort Worth developed Amon Carter Field, which became the Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW) in 1960. However, GSW's traffic continued to decline relative to Love Field, and the joint airport proposal was revisited in 1961. DFW Airport finally opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million.

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George Bush Intercontinental Airport

The airport was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969. However, in 1997, it was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. It is commonly referred to as Houston International Airport or George Bush International Airport.

The airport features five terminals and 121 total gates. The Skyway automated people mover system connects all five terminals airside, while the Subway provides landside connections between the terminals and the airport hotel. Terminals D and E have access to an international arrivals facility, with Terminal D supporting super jumbo jets such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8. Each terminal serves different carriers, with Terminal A primarily used by non-United domestic carriers, Terminal B for United Express flights, Terminal C for United domestic flights, Terminal D for non-United international flights, and Terminal E for United international flights and international arrivals.

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Tyler Pounds Airport

Texas has 393 airports for public use, with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport being the major international airports.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tyler, in Smith County, Texas. The airport opened in November 1929 as Tyler Municipal Airport. During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces used the airfield as a training base and renamed it Pounds Field after Lieutenant Jack Windham Pounds. At the end of the war, the airfield was handed over to the local government for civil use and became Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.

The airport has been expanding to meet the goals set out in the Tyler Master Plan. On August 17, 2002, a new terminal building was opened, doubling the airport's space. Federal Aviation Administration records show 76,168 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2008, 73,841 in 2009, and 74,357 in 2010. For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2011, the airport recorded 48,677 aircraft operations, averaging 133 per day, with 152 aircraft based at the airport.

In terms of airlines, Delta Air Lines included Tyler in its timetables by 1936 on a Dallas-Atlanta multi-stop route. Mid-Continent Airlines served the airport by 1947, with Douglas DC-3 aircraft operating daily southbound and northbound routing. Trans-Texas Airways also began serving Tyler in the 1940s with Douglas DC-3s flying between Dallas Love Field, Beaumont/Port Arthur, and Houston Hobby Airport. By 1966, they were offering non-stop flights to Dallas, direct flights to Houston, and flights to New Orleans. Today, American Eagle, the regional air carrier subsidiary of American Airlines, operates nonstop flights to DFW from Tyler, with this service being operated by SkyWest Airlines.

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William P. Hobby Airport

Texas has 393 airports open to the public, including both domestic and international airports. The major international airports in Texas are Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

One of the major airports in Texas is William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The airport covers 1,304 acres and has three runways. The 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. In 1937, the airport was acquired by the city of Houston and renamed Houston Municipal Airport. The airport was renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport in 1938, after Howard Hughes, who was responsible for several improvements to the airport, including the construction of its first control tower. However, the airport's name was 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 1967, the airport was renamed after former Texas governor, William P. Hobby.

The airport is served by seven airlines and offers flights to over 70 destinations worldwide. It has also implemented green initiatives, achieving Level 2 accreditation from the Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, confirming significant reductions in emissions. The airport offers various transportation options, including bus and shuttle services, taxis, and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

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San Antonio Airport

Texas has 393 airports for public use, with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport being the major international airports. San Antonio International Airport (IATA: SAT, ICAO: KSAT, FAA LID: SAT) is another major airport in Texas, located in Uptown Central San Antonio, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Downtown. The airport has three runways and covers 2,305 acres (933 ha) of land, with an elevation of 809 feet (247 m) above sea level.

The airport was founded in 1941 when the City of San Antonio purchased 1,200 acres (490 ha) of undeveloped land for a project called ""San Antonio Municipal Airport." The airport's name was changed to San Antonio International Airport in 1944, and it has been serving passengers since. Braniff Airlines was the first airline to serve the airport in 1943, followed by American Airlines in 1944. Terminal 2 was built between 1951 and 1953, along with the FAA control tower and a baggage claim area.

San Antonio International Airport averages 260 daily departures and arrivals at its 27 gates, serving 14 airlines. These airlines offer non-stop flights to 45 destinations in the US and Mexico. The airport has boarded over 3.5 million passengers in a year and has served more than 80 million people since 1966. In 1994, a second Airport Master Plan was developed to bring the airport into the 21st century, including increased parking spaces, improved airport access, and an enhanced concession program.

The airport is conveniently located near the intersection of Interstate 410 and U.S. 281, providing easy access to Downtown and northern San Antonio. VIA Metropolitan Transit offers weekday express bus services from the airport to Downtown, and there is a park-and-ride facility in Stone Oak on Route 7. Additionally, Route 5 provides local bus services and connections to other routes at the North Star Transit Center. ST Engineering, previously known as Dee Howard Aircraft Maintenance, has a significant presence at the airport, employing around 1,000 staff and providing maintenance and leasing services for passenger and cargo airlines.

Frequently asked questions

Texas has numerous major airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston Airport, Dallas Love Field, and William P. Hobby Airport.

Dallas Fort Worth Airport is the busiest airport in Texas, transporting 26,663,984 passengers every year. It is also the fourth busiest airport in the US and the sixth busiest worldwide.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the second busiest airport in Texas. It is located in Houston and serves as the biggest hub for Continental Airlines.

Dallas Love Field is the third busiest airport in Texas. It is the second airport serving the Dallas area and is located 10km from downtown Dallas.

William P. Hobby Airport is the closest airport to Houston, located 11km from the city centre.

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