Houston's Airport: All About Iah

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport, it was renamed in 1997 to honour George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. The airport is located about 23 miles north of Downtown Houston and has scheduled flights to a large number of domestic and international destinations covering five continents.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

The airport ranks as the best in the United States and second-best in North America at the World Airport Awards. It connects nonstop to five continents through 25 airlines. The airport has five terminals labelled A to E. Terminals D and E are used for international arrivals, with passengers proceeding through Customs and Immigration to the Terminal E international arrivals hall.

The airport has a range of dining options, including vegetarian, vegan, and kid-friendly choices. There are also various shopping options, such as sports accessories, apparel, cosmetics, electronics, and souvenirs.

Some travellers prefer George Bush Intercontinental Airport for its nicer facilities, while others find it inconvenient to get to and associate it with a less preferred airline.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)

Hobby 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. 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, after Howard Hughes, who was responsible for several improvements to the airport, including its first control tower. However, the airport's name changed back to Houston Municipal because regulations did not allow federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person.

In 1940, the city of Houston opened a new air terminal and hangar. The original art deco terminal building now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. In 1943, the airport hosted the first three Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) training classes.

In 1954, an expanded terminal building opened to support the 53,640 airline flights that carried 910,047 passengers. The airport was renamed Houston International Airport. By 1957, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had begun operating flights from Hobby Airport to Amsterdam via Montreal.

In 1967, the airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport. In 1969, Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) opened, and Hobby Airport was left without any scheduled passenger service. However, in 1970, Houston Metro Airlines became the first airline to resume passenger flights, offering "cross-town" service between Hobby and Houston Intercontinental Airport. In 1971, Southwest Airlines began operating nonstop flights to Dallas Love Field and San Antonio, making Hobby Airport its operating base.

Today, HOU is served by seven airlines, reaching over 70 destinations worldwide. The airport has a single terminal with two concourses (one domestic and one international) and 30 gates overall. The domestic concourse, which opened in 2003, features various retail shops and restaurants, as well as an interfaith chapel. The international concourse opened in 2015.

William P. Hobby Airport has received several accolades. In 2022, it became the first airport in North America to earn a 5-Star International Rating by Skytrax. Additionally, in February 2020, Hobby Airport became the first airport in Texas to implement full biometric entry and exit for international passengers.

Transport options to and from IAH

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is Houston's largest airport, and the 8th largest airport in the US for the number of travellers. With more than 40 million people passing through each year, it can get very busy. Luckily, there are many transport options to and from the airport.

Public Transport

The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) offers local bus services to and from the airport. The METRO Bus 102 serves the airport and the surrounding vicinity with multiple stops and continues to the METRO station downtown. The fare is $1.25 (cash only) and the transit time to downtown is 50 to 90 minutes.

Taxi or Rideshare

If you're carrying a lot of luggage, a taxi or rideshare might be a better option. A taxi to downtown Houston will take around 40 minutes. However, hailing a taxi can take time, especially when the airport is busy. Ridesharing companies like Uber or Lyft have grown in popularity, but their safety has been called into question as you have no power to choose your driver.

Car Rental

Major car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty are located at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility. However, it is recommended to arrive at the airport with a booked car rental.

Luxury Car Service

If you want to arrive in style, you can book a luxury car service. You can choose from oversized luxury sedans or more modest SUVs, driven by professional, experienced chauffeurs.

Limo Service

A limo service will have you feeling like a celebrity. You can hire a limo on your own or with a group. A limo will be waiting for you just outside the terminal, or outside your home or hotel if you're headed to the airport.

IAH's flight network

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, is located 23 miles (37 km) north of Houston. It is ranked as the best airport in the United States and the second-best in North America.

IAH has a vast flight network, with 25 airlines connecting the airport to five continents non-stop. Some of the popular domestic routes from IAH include flights to Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando (MCO), Denver (DEN), New York/Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), Phoenix (PHX), and Seattle (SEA). Internationally, IAH offers flights to London (LHR), Mexico City (MEX), Cancun (CUN), and San Salvador (SAL), among other destinations.

IAH provides a range of dining options, including vegetarian, vegan, and kid-friendly choices. The airport also has a variety of shopping options, such as sports accessories, apparel, beauty products, electronics, and souvenirs.

For travellers to and from the airport, there are regular bus services, shuttle services, and cabs available. The airport also provides both long- and short-term parking options.

IAH's history

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, is one of the largest airports in the United States, serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston and covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land. It has five runways and five terminals, with 121 total gates.

The airport was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in June 1969. The IATA code, IAH, is derived from the stylization of the airport's original name as the "Intercontinental Airport of Houston." In 1997, the airport was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.

Houston businessmen purchased the site for the airport in 1957 to preserve it until the city could develop a plan for a new airport to replace the existing William P. Hobby Airport, then known as Houston International Airport. The holding company for the land was named the Jet Era Ranch Corporation, but a typographical error transformed "Jet Era" into "Jetero," and the airport site became known as the Jetero airport. Although the name was corrected in official planning documents by 1961, the eastern entrance to the airport was named Jetero Boulevard and remains so to this day.

Upon its completion in 1969, all scheduled passenger airline services from Hobby Airport were moved to Intercontinental. However, Hobby remained open as a general aviation airport and resumed scheduled passenger airline jet service in 1971 when Southwest Airlines initiated intrastate airline service between Hobby and Dallas Love Field.

Today, IAH is the busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic and international destinations. It is also the second-busiest airport in Texas and the 15th busiest in the United States for total passenger traffic. The airport has a wide range of amenities, including Wi-Fi, retail stores, food and beverage outlets, visitor information centres, and currency exchange booths.

Frequently asked questions