Hobby Airport: Houston's Gateway To The South

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston, Texas. Colloquially known as Houston Hobby, it is the city's oldest commercial airport and was its primary airport until 1969 when the Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport) opened. Houston Hobby covers 1,304 acres and has three runways. It is an important domestic transport hub in Texas and is easy to reach from the South Houston area and the Pasadena Plaza Shopping Center.

William P. Hobby Airport's address

William P. Hobby Airport is located in Houston, Texas, United States. Colloquially known as Houston Hobby, the airport is situated approximately 7 to 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The airport's address is 7800 Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77061.

Houston Hobby is an important transport hub in Texas, serving as the city's oldest commercial airport and its primary airport until the opening of Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport) in 1969. Hobby Airport is easily accessible, lying just off the I-45 interstate and offering convenient connections to the downtown district via a regular shuttle service.

The airport covers a substantial area of 1,304 acres and features three runways. It has a single terminal with two concourses, one for domestic flights and the other for international travel, along with 30 gates in total. The domestic concourse, which opened in 2003, boasts various retail shops and restaurants, while the international concourse commenced operations in 2015.

William P. Hobby Airport is the base of operations for Southwest Airlines, which operates both international and domestic flights from the airport. As of 2017, Houston Hobby ranked as the fifth-largest airport in Southwest's network. The airport also serves as a centre for corporate and private aviation.

Hobby Airport's location relative to downtown Houston

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The airport is about 7 miles from downtown Houston. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport and was its primary airport until the larger George Bush Intercontinental Airport opened in 1969. Hobby Airport is located off the I-45 interstate and is easy to reach from downtown Houston. The airport is connected to the downtown district by a regular shuttle van service provided by Express Shuttle USA.

The address of the airport is 7800 Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77061. The latitude and longitude of the airport are 29.39.273, -95 16.598, respectively.

To get to the airport from I-45 when travelling south, exit at Monroe Road and go west. Then, turn right onto Airport Boulevard. When travelling north on I-45, exit at Airport Boulevard/College Avenue and turn left onto Airport Boulevard.

The William P. Hobby Airport covers 1,304 acres and has three runways. The airport has a single terminal with two concourses (one domestic and one international) and 30 gates overall. The domestic concourse opened in 2003 and features various retail shops and restaurants. The international concourse opened in 2015.

Driving directions to Hobby Airport

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston. Here are the driving directions to get to the airport from different routes:

From I-45, traveling south:

Exit Monroe Road and travel west. Then, turn right onto Airport Boulevard. The airport will be on your right.

From I-45, traveling north:

Exit at Airport Boulevard/College Avenue. After exiting, turn left onto Airport Boulevard. The airport will be on your left.

Using GPS:

The GPS coordinates for the airport are 29.39.273 latitude and -95.16.598 longitude.

Address:

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), 7800 Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77061, United States.

Public transport options to Hobby Airport

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located approximately 7 to 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport and is recognised as a leading airport, having earned the first 5-Star airport rating in North America.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, or METRO, offers local bus services to Hobby Airport. The closest bus stop to the airport is Airport Blvd @ Rent A Car Rd, which is a 10-minute walk away. The second closest bus stop is Broadway St @ Rockhill St, a 12-minute walk from the airport. The bus fare costs around $1.25.

There are several bus lines that serve Hobby Airport:

• 40 Telephone/Heights: This line provides local service to Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown, and North Shepard Park and Ride.
• 50 Broadway: This line also provides service between the airport and Eastwood Transit Center via the Magnolia Park Transit Center.
• 73 Bellfort: This line runs up to a 12-minute frequency during the weekday and connects the airport to Fannin South Transit Center, where passengers can connect to the Metro Rail Red Line.
• 88 Sagemont: This line runs between the airport and San Jacinto College South Campus.

In addition to the bus services, METRO also offers a shared-ride paratransit service called METROLift for pre-approved customers with disabilities. This service provides curb-to-curb transportation with ADA-accessible vans and minivans that can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers.

For those seeking a more direct route to the airport, taxis, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, and courtesy vans operated by hotels and motels in the area are also available.

History of Hobby Airport

William P. Hobby Airport, located approximately 7 miles from downtown Houston, is the city's oldest commercial airport. It first opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture known as W.T. Carter Field, owned by Texas businessman W.T. Carter, Jr. In 1937, the City of Houston purchased the airfield and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. The airport was later renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport in honour of Texan Howard Hughes, Jr., who built the city's first control tower. However, the airport's name reverted to Houston Municipal because regulations did not allow federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person.

In 1954, the airport was renamed Houston International Airport, and in 1967, it was renamed William P. Hobby Airport after the 27th Governor of Texas. When the Houston Intercontinental Airport (now the George Bush Intercontinental Airport) opened in 1969, Hobby Airport was left without any scheduled passenger service and was designated a General Aviation Airport serving private and corporate aircraft. However, it resumed commercial flights in 1971.

Today, William P. Hobby Airport covers 1,304 acres and has three runways. Its original art deco terminal building, the first passenger airline terminal in Houston, now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. The airport has come a long way since its early days, now accommodating over twelve million passengers annually and offering both domestic and international flights.

Frequently asked questions