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George Bush Intercontinental Airport, also known as Houston Intercontinental Airport, is an international airport in Houston, Texas. The airport was renamed in 1997 after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a Houston resident. The airport, which first opened in 1969, has grown from mainly operating domestic flights to becoming a hub for international travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
| IATA Code | IAH |
| ICAO Code | KIAH |
| FAA LID | IAH |
| Named After | George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States |
| Year of Naming | 1997 |
| Location | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Year of Opening | 1969 |
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What You'll Learn
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States
- The airport is located in Houston, Texas, and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area
- It was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969
- The airport's IATA code is IAH, derived from Intercontinental Airport of Houston
- The airport has terminals named after Mickey Leland, an African-American US congressman
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The airport is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States.
The airport was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it first opened in 1969. In April 1997, the Houston City Council voted unanimously to rename the airport after President Bush. The name change took effect on May 2, 1997.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has a long and interesting history. The site for the airport was purchased by a group of Houston businessmen in 1957 to preserve the land until the city of Houston was ready to build a new airport. Planning for the airport began in the early 1960s, and it was originally intended to be called Jetero Intercontinental Airport. However, by the time of its opening in 1969, it was named Houston Intercontinental Airport.
The airport has undergone continuous upgrades over the years to meet the needs of the growing city of Houston. Terminals C and D were added in the early 1980s, and Terminal E was completed in the early 2000s. The airport is well-known for its art installations, including "Houston Bayou" by Dixie Friend Gay, a glass mosaic mural in the corridor leading to Terminal B.
Today, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a busy international travel hub, offering scheduled flights to a large number of domestic and international destinations covering five continents. It is the second busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic as of 2025. The airport is a fitting tribute to President George H. W. Bush and his legacy.
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The airport is located in Houston, Texas, and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH) is located in Houston, Texas, and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The airport, initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport, first opened in 1969. It was renamed in 1997 after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.
The airport is about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59. It offers direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway. The airport has scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations across five continents. As of 2025, it is the second busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic.
The history of the airport dates back to 1957 when a group of Houston businessmen purchased the site to preserve it for future development. The planning for the airport began in 1961, and construction was well underway by 1963, with an anticipated opening date of 1966. However, the airport eventually opened in June 1969, with all passenger services moving from the William P. Hobby Airport to the new facility.
The airport has undergone continuous upgrades over the years to meet the needs of the growing city of Houston. Terminals have been added and expanded, and strategic investments have been made to enhance the passenger experience. Today, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a hub for international travel, offering nonstop flights to countries such as China and Nigeria. The airport is accessible from the city centre of Houston, and its location and infrastructure contribute to its role in serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
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It was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport, opened in June 1969. The airport was constructed on a 3,000-acre site, sixteen miles north of downtown Houston, which was purchased by a group of Houston businessmen in 1957. The land was acquired to preserve the area until the city of Houston could develop a plan for a new airport to replace the existing William P. Hobby Airport, then known as Houston International Airport.
The airport's IATA code, IAH, is derived from the stylization of the airport's original name as "Intercontinental Airport of Houston." The name "Houston Intercontinental Airport" emphasised the airport's ability to offer intercontinental flights to other continents, not just countries within the Americas.
In its early years, the airport experienced issues with inadequate terminals, weak runways, and overcrowded parking. Despite these challenges, the airport grew rapidly, with over 15 million passengers passing through in 1988. In 1990, the airport was ranked as the eighteenth busiest airport in the United States and the eighth busiest for international passengers.
In April 1997, the Houston City Council unanimously voted to rename the airport after George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a resident of Houston. The name change took effect on May 2, 1997, and the airport has since been officially known as George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston.
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The airport's IATA code is IAH, derived from Intercontinental Airport of Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with the IATA code IAH, is an international airport in Houston, Texas, United States. The airport is about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
The airport's IATA code, IAH, is derived from the stylization of the airport's original name, "Intercontinental Airport of Houston". The airport was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in June 1969.
The airport was renamed in April 1997 to honour George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston. The name change took effect on May 2, 1997.
The airport has direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway and offers scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations across five continents. It is the second busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic as of 2025.
The airport's original design included Terminals A and B, with Terminal C opening in 1981 and Terminal D, the international arrivals terminal, opening in May 1990. The airport has undergone continuous upgrades to meet the needs of the growing city and state.
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The airport has terminals named after Mickey Leland, an African-American US congressman
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH) in Houston, Texas, was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969. In 1997, it was renamed in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.
Mickey Leland was a United States representative who passed away in an aviation accident in Ethiopia. Terminal D, which opened in May 1990, serves as the arrival point for all international flights, excluding United flights. The terminal features artworks such as "Houston Bayou" by Dixie Friend Gay, a Byzantine glass mosaic mural depicting scenes from Houston's bayous and wetlands.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has undergone continuous upgrades to meet the needs of Houston's growing aviation demands. The airport is a hub for international travel, offering nonstop flights to various destinations, including China and Nigeria. It is the second busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic as of 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Houston, Texas.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is named after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, who was a resident of Houston.
The airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969.
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