About Us

The Houston Airport System, a department of the Municipal Government of the City of Houston, began as an airport operator of the Houston's William P. Hobby Airport in 1937. It added to its airport administration the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in 1969 and Ellington Airport in 1984. It is the fourth largest airport system in the United States and the sixth largest in the world. It handles over 50 million passengers and approximately 1 million aircraft operations per year through its 11 runways, 7 major terminals, and 185 air bridge gates. It generates over $470 million per year in revenue and enjoys an "AAA" bond rating, and recently completed a US$ 3.1 billion capital improvements program and continues to undertake an additional US$ 1.7 billion expansion program over the next 5 years. Its 1,500 employees provide a large pool of highly trained airport specialists, recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration as the Outstanding Texas Airport Operator for 2006, and as the United States Model Airport for Security and Public Safety Operations in June, 2007. It is noted for the fact that it operates the three Houston airports as a system, rather than as individual airports within a network. The "system" approach to airport management affords greater economies of scale in all aspects of operations, and ensures a maximum of technology transfer and sharing of industry best practices between the airports. It is one of the few airport systems that operate "hub" airports for both major legacy and low-cost carriers, as well as a joint-use commercial/military field.