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William P. Hobby Airport, located approximately seven miles from downtown Houston, was originally opened in 1927 as a private landing field by Texas businessman W.T. Carter, Jr. The airport has undergone several name changes since its inception, including Houston Municipal Airport, Howard Hughes Airport, and Houston International Airport. In 1967, the airport was renamed after former Texas governor, William P. Hobby, who served as the 27th governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | William P. Hobby Airport |
| City | Houston |
| State | Texas |
| Named After | William Pettus Hobby, 27th Governor of Texas |
| Year of Inception | 1927 |
| Previous Names | Houston Municipal Airport, Howard Hughes Airport, Houston International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
- William P. Hobby Airport was renamed in 1967
- The airport was originally named after W.T. Carter
- William P. Hobby was a Texas politician, journalist and publisher
- The airport has been named Houston Municipal Airport, Howard Hughes Airport and Houston International Airport
- William P. Hobby was the 27th Governor of Texas
William P. Hobby Airport was renamed in 1967
William P. Hobby Airport, with the code HOU, is located around seven miles from downtown Houston. The airport was renamed in 1967 after William Pettus Hobby, the 27th Governor of Texas, who served from 1917 to 1921.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to its inception in 1927 when it began operating as a 600-acre landing strip. It was originally a private airfield known as W.T. Carter Field, owned by Texas businessman W. T. Carter, Jr. Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions. In 1937, the City of Houston acquired the airport and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. In 1938, it was briefly renamed Howard Hughes Airport after Texan Howard Hughes, Jr., who built the city's first control tower. However, due to regulations prohibiting federal improvement funds from being used to name an airport after a living person, the airport's name was changed back to Houston Municipal.
In 1949, an international wing was added to the airport, and between 1954 and 1957, the City of Houston expanded the terminal and remodelled the runway system to accommodate international destinations. With these upgrades, the airport was renamed Houston International Airport. Finally, in 1967, the airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport to honour the former governor.
Today, William P. Hobby Airport is a renowned aviation hub, offering flights to eighty-three destinations across North America and beyond. The airport has received numerous accolades, including being named the first 5-Star airport in North America by Skytrax in 2022 and the best Regional Airport in North America by the World Airport Awards. The airport is also known for its diverse dining options, ranging from local favourites to Michelin-recommended eateries.
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The airport was originally named after W.T. Carter
In 1937, the city of Houston purchased the W. T. Carter Field and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. The airport was later renamed Howard Hughes Airport in honour of Texan Howard Hughes, who built the airport's first control tower in 1938. However, the name was changed back to Houston Municipal Airport because federal regulations did not allow federal improvement funds to be used for an airport named after a living person.
In 1967, the airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport after William Pettus Hobby, the 27th Governor of Texas. Hobby served as governor from 1917 to 1921 and was known for implementing various measures related to drought relief, free school textbooks, state aid for highways and schools, and working conditions, including establishing minimum wage rates.
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William P. Hobby was a Texas politician, journalist and publisher
William P. Hobby Airport, with the city and FAA code HOU, is located approximately seven miles from downtown Houston. The airport began operating as a 600-acre landing strip in 1927 when Texas businessman W. T. Carter, Jr. purchased the property in South Houston. It was initially called the W. T. Carter Field.
William P. Hobby, the airport's namesake, was a Texas politician, journalist, and publisher. Born on March 26, 1878, Hobby entered politics and joined the Democratic Party in 1914, running for and becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. In 1917, after Governor James Edward Ferguson ("Pa" Ferguson) was impeached and forced to resign due to a corruption scandal, Hobby succeeded him at the young age of 39, becoming the youngest governor in the state's history. He went on to win the 1918 Democratic primary and the general election, serving as the 27th Governor of Texas until 1921. During his tenure, he implemented measures such as drought relief, free school textbooks, state aid for highways and schools, and improvements to working conditions, including the establishment of minimum wage rates.
Prior to his political career, Hobby was the publisher and owner of the Beaumont Enterprise. After his governorship, he returned to publishing and, in 1924, became the president of the Houston Post. He also served as chairman of the board of the Houston Post Company, which expanded into radio and television stations.
William P. Hobby Airport has undergone several name changes and expansions over the years. In 1937, the City of Houston acquired the airport and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. In 1938, it was briefly renamed Howard Hughes Airport after Texan Howard Hughes, Jr., who had set a flight speed record and built the city's first control tower. However, due to regulations prohibiting federal improvement funds for airports named after living individuals, the airport reverted to its previous name. In 1967, the airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport to honour the former Texas governor.
Today, William P. Hobby Airport is a bustling aviation hub, serving over 913,000 international travellers and more than 12.2 million domestic passengers in 2022. The airport offers flights to eighty-three destinations, with airlines such as Southwest, Allegiant, American, Delta, and Frontier. It has received accolades for its operations and facilities, including being named the first 5-Star airport in North America by Skytrax in 2022.
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The airport has been named Houston Municipal Airport, Howard Hughes Airport and Houston International Airport
The William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, has had a long history, with several name changes since its opening in June 1927. The airport was originally a private landing field, known as W.T. Carter Field, before being acquired by the city of Houston and named Houston Municipal Airport in 1937.
The airport then underwent another name change in 1938, when it was renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport after Howard Hughes, who was responsible for significant improvements to the airport, including the construction of its first control tower. However, due to regulations prohibiting federal improvement funds from being used to name an airport after a living person, the name was changed back to Houston Municipal Airport.
In 1940, a new air terminal and hangar were opened, and the airport continued to expand its services, including international flights to Mexico, Central America, and Cuba after World War II. The airport's current name, William P. Hobby Airport, honours former Texas governor William P. Hobby. The airport has been served by various airlines over the years, including Braniff International Airways, Eastern Air Lines, Trans-Texas Airways, and Pioneer Air Lines, and has played a significant role in Houston's aviation history.
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William P. Hobby was the 27th Governor of Texas
William P. Hobby Airport, with the city and FAA code HOU, is located approximately seven miles from downtown Houston. The airport began operating as a 600-acre landing strip in 1927 when Texas businessman W. T. Carter, Jr., purchased the property in South Houston. Carter, a member of the city council, attempted to convince the members to construct Houston's first airport. When they rejected his idea, he formed an aviation company and constructed an airport on his newly purchased land, calling it the W. T. Carter Field.
In 1937, the city of Houston purchased the facility and expanded it to 1,240 acres. The city council of Houston, in conjunction with the Houston Airport Commission, voted to pay $356,400 for the airstrip on Telephone Road, which had been operated by the W. T. Carter Lumber Company. The airport was renamed Houston Municipal Airport.
In 1938, Texan Howard Hughes, Jr., built the city's first control tower, making the airport much safer. Because Hughes used and donated to the airport, the facility was renamed Howard Hughes Airport in 1938. However, the federal government offered no funding if the airport had been named after a living person, so the airport returned to its original name.
In 1967, Houston Municipal Airport was renamed William P. Hobby Airport after William P. Hobby, the 27th Governor of Texas. William Pettus Hobby was an American politician, journalist, and publisher. He served as the 24th lieutenant governor of Texas from 1915 to 1917 before becoming governor. After James E. Ferguson was impeached and forced to resign, Hobby assumed the governorship in 1917. In 1918, he won the office and served a full term until 1921.
William P. Hobby Airport has undergone several upgrades and expansions over the years. The airport received accolades in 2022, being named the first 5-Star airport in North America by Skytrax and the best Regional Airport in North America by the World Airport Awards. The airport offers a variety of dining options, including Throughgood Bistro, The Rustic, and Galveston's the Spot.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport is named after William Pettus Hobby, an American politician, journalist, and publisher who served as the 27th governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921.
The airport was originally named Houston Municipal Airport, but in 1967, it was renamed after Hobby.
Yes, the airport has also been called W.T. Carter Field, Houston Municipal Airport, Howard R. Hughes Airport, and Houston International Airport.
