Ruth Haines
William P. Hobby Airport, also known as Houston Hobby Airport, is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston, Texas. The airport is named after former Texas Governor William P. Hobby and has the airport code HOU.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| City | Houston |
| State | Texas |
| Address | 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061, United States |
| Airport Code | HOU |
| Distance from Houston Downtown | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Distance from Houston City Center | 11 miles (18 km) |
| Location | South of Houston, in the Gulf Freeway |
| Nearby Areas | Pasadena, Pearland, and Galveston |
| Time Zone | UTC -6 (Central Time Zone) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) above sea level |
| Operating Hours | 24 hours |
| Owner/Operator | City of Houston Department of Aviation |
| Website | https://www.fly2houston.com/hou |
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What You'll Learn
William P. Hobby Airport's address
William P. Hobby Airport, also known by its IATA code HOU, is located in Houston, Texas, in the United States. The airport's address is 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061. It is situated approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston.
The airport is named after William P. Hobby, the former lieutenant governor of Texas. The airport has a rich history, with Delta Air Lines operating the world's first Convair 880 scheduled passenger flight nonstop to New York City from Hobby Airport in 1960. In June 1961, National Airlines Douglas DC-8s and Continental 707s commenced nonstop flights to Los Angeles, and National Electras began flying directly to Las Vegas, San Diego, and San Francisco. These were significant milestones in Houston's aviation history, offering the city's first non-stop flights beyond El Paso.
William P. Hobby Airport has undergone several developments over the years. In February 2020, it became the first airport in Texas to implement full biometric entry and exit for international passengers. Additionally, in March 2022, Southwest announced a substantial expansion project worth $250 million to add seven gates to the west concourse. The expansion project is a joint venture between Southwest and the city of Houston, which has committed $20 million to the project.
The airport is easily accessible via various transportation options. Several bus lines, including the 40 Telephone/Heights and 50 Broadway, connect the airport to nearby areas such as Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown Houston, and Magnolia Park Transit Center. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, or METRO, also serves the airport, providing convenient connections to the city. For those seeking a more private mode of transport, taxis, Uber, and Lyft services are available at designated curb zones.
William P. Hobby Airport is committed to sustainability and has made significant strides in reducing its environmental impact. Between 2019 and 2022, the airport achieved a 22% reduction in emissions, surpassing the reductions made by George Bush Intercontinental Airport during the same period. This success is attributed to operational improvements and modernization efforts, including the integration of electric vehicles and upgrades to energy systems.
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Transport to and from the airport
William P. Hobby Airport is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The airport offers a range of ground transportation services to and from the airport.
Bus
The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) provides public bus transportation to and from the airport. METRO Bus 40 offers a local service to Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown, and North Shepard Park and Ride. The bus also continues to downtown Houston and the George R. Brown Convention Center. The total transit time to downtown is approximately one hour.
Additionally, METRO Bus 50 Broadway provides service between the airport and Eastwood Transit Center via the Magnolia Park Transit Center. This route takes about 30 minutes from the Magnolia Park Transit Center to the Hobby Airport Transit Center.
Rail
The METRORail Red Line travels through downtown Houston, with a transfer point at Central Station Main to the Green Line. The Green Line connects to the Magnolia Park Transit Center, where passengers can board the 50 Broadway bus to reach the airport. The entire trip from downtown Houston takes just over 45 minutes.
Shuttle
SuperShuttle Express offers door-to-door service to and from the airport, providing stress-free and flexible transportation. They serve over 70 airport locations worldwide, including William P. Hobby Airport.
Taxi and Ridesharing
Taxis are available at Curb Zone 2 of the airport, while ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft can be found at Curb Zone 5.
Hotel Courtesy Vans
Various hotels and motels in the Houston area operate courtesy vans for their guests. Courtesy telephones are available in the baggage claim areas to request pickup.
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Art installations at the airport
Houston Airport System is renowned for its art, winning the World's Best Art in the Airport from Airport by Skytrax in 2023 and 2024. Hobby Airport, officially known as William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), is one of the airports that contributed to this award. The airport features a variety of art installations, with pieces in various styles and media, including paintings, sculptures, music, textile art, video art, and sound art.
Hobby Airport's art installations are the result of a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Houston Airport System. The airport showcases the work of Houston- and Texas-based artists from diverse backgrounds, with commissions for attention-grabbing projects. Alton DuLaney, the curator of public art for Houston airports, coordinates and maintains the collection.
One notable installation at Hobby Airport is the work of the artist-in-residence, Mark Francis. Francis sets up his studio past the security checkpoint, in the hallways leading to the departure gates. He invites travellers to stop by and engage in conversations about their experiences with art.
In addition to visual arts, Hobby Airport also features live music performances through the Houston Airport's performing arts program, "Harmony in the Air." The program offers a diverse range of musical styles, including classical string quartets, flamenco, R&B, and pop music.
Furthermore, in February, Houston Airports installed two art cars at Hobby Airport. These cars paid homage to the famous Texas musician Stevie Ray Vaughan and the legendary singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury. The airports have become a space to showcase the work of local and international artists, enriching the travel experience for passengers passing through.
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The airport's history
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located approximately seven to eleven miles from downtown Houston. The airport has a rich history dating back to the early days of aviation.
The airport began as a private landing field in a 600-acre pasture known as W.T. Carter Field, owned by Texas businessman W. T. Carter, Jr. It opened in June 1927 and was served by Braniff International Airways and Eastern Air Lines in the 1930s. In 1937, the City of Houston purchased the airfield and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. The airport saw several improvements over the years, including the construction of the first control tower in 1938 by Howard Hughes, who briefly had the airport named after him.
In the 1940s, the airport expanded with the addition of paved runways, hangars, and a runway lighting system. An international wing was added in 1949, and the airport began offering direct flights to Mexico City in 1950. The airport was renamed Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1954 and saw further improvements, including a new modern terminal and lengthened runways capable of handling turbojet aircraft.
In the 1960s, the airport continued to grow, with the introduction of non-stop flights to various destinations across the United States. In 1969, the opening of the Houston Intercontinental Airport north of the city led to Hobby downsizing its commercial traffic to mainly serve private and corporate aircraft. However, commercial flights resumed at Hobby in 1971 due to congestion at the new airport.
In recent years, Hobby Airport has continued to expand and modernize. In 2015, Southwest Airlines opened the first international terminal at Hobby, offering service to Mexico and Central and South America. The airport achieved a 22% reduction in emissions between 2019 and 2022, reflecting operational improvements and modernization efforts. Hobby Airport also became the first 5-Star Airport in North America by Skytrax in 2022.
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The airport's bus connections
William P. Hobby Airport, located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston, offers a variety of ground transportation services to and from the airport. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, or METRO, is one of the public bus transportation services available. METRO buses arrive at Curb Zone 3 outside the Baggage Claim/Arrival Level approximately every 12 to 30 minutes.
There are four bus lines that serve Hobby Airport. The 40 Telephone/Heights line provides local service to Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown, and North Shepard Park and Ride. The 50 Broadway line also services the airport and Eastwood Transit Center, but via the Magnolia Park Transit Center. The 73 Bellfort line runs between the airport and Fannin South Transit Center, connecting to the Metro Rail Red Line with a weekday frequency of up to 12 minutes. Lastly, the 88 Sagemont line runs between the airport and San Jacinto College South Campus.
Passengers transferring to buses chartered by a cruise line will be met by cruise line representatives in Baggage Claim. METRO Bus 40 can also be taken to downtown Houston and the George R. Brown Convention Center. For passengers travelling from HOU to IAH, take the METRO Bus 40 downtown, get off at the intersection of Lamar and Milam, and then catch the METRO Bus 102 to IAH Terminal C.
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Frequently asked questions
William P. Hobby Airport is located approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston, Texas, USA.
The address is 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061.
A 30-foot-wide stainless steel bird's nest called "Take-off" is located at Hobby's Broadway Street entrance. It is held 20 feet above the ground by three steel tree trunks.
There are currently four bus lines serving Hobby Airport, including the 40 Telephone/Heights and 50 Broadway bus lines. Taxis are available at Curb Zone 2, and ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber can be found at Curb Zone 5.
On May 15, 1960, Delta Air Lines operated the world's first Convair 880 scheduled passenger flight nonstop to New York City Idlewild Airport from Hobby Airport. In February 2020, Hobby Airport became the first airport in Texas to implement full biometric entry and exit for international passengers.
