HOUSTON HOBBY AIRPORT (HOU) INFORMATION

William P. Hobby Airport (often referred to as Houston Hobby Airport) is located in Houston, Texas, USA and it serves the greater Houston area. The airport is the oldest commercial airport in the area and it was its primary airport until 1969 when Houston Intercontinental Airport, now George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), opened.

After IAH opened Hobby Airport was closed, but it soon reopened and became a center for corporate and private aviation and also the secondary airport for domestic flights in the area.

The IATA code for Houston is HOU, the ICAO code is KHOU and the airport is generally known as Houston Hobby Airport.

The airport opened as a private landing field, known as the W.T. Carter Field, in 1927 and in the 1930s it was served by Braniff International Airways and Eastern Air Lines. In 1937 Houston City acquired the airport and gave it the name Houston Municipal, but it was renamed Howard R. Hughes Airport, the following year, in 1938, after Howard Hughes who was responsible for improvements such as its first control tower. However, due to Hughes still being a person who was alive and the current regulations not allowing federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person the airport’s name was soon changed back to Houston Municipal Airport.

A new terminal and hangar were opened in 1940.

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) held their first three training classes at the airport in 1943.

The airport remained an international airport until it closed down after the opening of IAH in 1969, but before then, in 1967, it again had its name changed, this time after the former Texas governor William P. Hobby. When IAH opened all scheduled flights to or from the area moved there leaving HOU without scheduled flights until 1970 when they slowly began to resume flights, but this time only of the domestic kind.

In May of 2011, Southwest Airlines, who by then were using HOU as one hub, expressed interest in reinstating international flights from the airport, which was supported by Houston Director of Aviation, Mario Diaz, almost a year later, in April 2012, after multiple studies were showed that the economic impact would benefit the entire city of Houston.

On that very day Southwest Airlines launched their campaign called Free Hobby. Meanwhile the other major carrier out of the airport, United Airlines, objected to the plans basing it on a study which concluded that the expansion would cost the area jobs and result in a net reduction in GRP. Houston’s mayor at the time, Annise Parker, did however back Southwest’s request was approved by the city council at the end of May, 2012.

Today the airport has one single terminal with two concourses, one domestic and one international, and a total of 30 gates. The domestic concourse replaced the three original concourses, dating back to the 1950s, in 2003 while the international concourse opened in October 2015.

The airport became the first Texan airport to have full biometric entry and exit for international travelers in February 2020.

The first passenger airline terminal in Houston, the original art deco terminal building, is now the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

The airport has four runways, however one closed permanently in February of 2020. The closed runway is 6,000 ft/1,829 m with an asphalt/concrete surface. Out of the remaining three runways one has an asphalt surface while the other two have concrete surface. The asphalt surfaced runway is 7,599 ft/2,316 m while the two concrete runways are 7,602 ft/2,317 m and 5,148 ft/1,569 m respectively.

HOU saw 6,476,309 passengers pass through it in 2020.

The owner is, as mentioned, City of Houston, and the airport is operated by Houston Airport System. It is a focus city for Southwest Airlines.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at William P. Hobby Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at William P. Hobby Airport
• See live flight departures information at William P. Hobby Airport
• See all airlines and routes that serve William P. Hobby Airport

Transfers at William P. Hobby Airport

Rental Cars – Car rental companies at Houston Hobby Airport are reached using the specific rental car shuttle buses as they are located in various locations around the airport.

Public Bus Transportation – The local supplier of public transportation, METRO, provides several local bus routes that connect Houston Hobby Airport with downtown Houston with departures throughout the day, all days.

Coaches or shuttle to other areas around Houston also frequent the airport, including a daily shuttle service to/from Galveston.

Taxis – Taxi cabs that serve Houston Hobby Airport have permits and drivers with special training in safe driving, customer service and assisting passengers with a disability. The taxi rank is located with the rest of the ground transportation options at the airport.

Shuttles and Ride Shares – Hotel shuttles are transfer services offered by various hotels in the area, either complimentary or at additional charge. Ride share transfers are arranged through the company app or website. See a variety of hotels near Houston Hobby Airport.

Trains, Amtrak and Greyhound – Trains, Amtrak and Greyhound stations are located in Houston and a transfer from the airport is required to reach them. More information about train services near Houston Hobby Airport.

Parking at William P. Hobby Airport

Houston Hobby Airport has two parking garages situated right next to the terminal building with one of them, the Blue Garage, being connected with the terminal via a pedestrian sky bridge on the third terminal level, fourth parking garage level. The Red Garage has Valet Parking on the second level and can house oversized vehicles on the first level. The two garages are interconnected with each other.

There is also an ecopark, an economical parking option, which is an outdoor surface lot which also is closely situated to the terminal. Complimentary shuttle buses run between shuttle shelters on the parking lot and the terminal. See more about parking at Houston Hobby Airport.

Accessibility at William P. Hobby Airport

The airport is committed to provide outstanding experiences at the airport for all travelers and several systems are in place to support and assist persons with a disability from arrival to departure.

WiFi at William P. Hobby Airport

The free WiFi network “Free Airport WiFi” is open to all visitors. It’s as easy as connecting and accepting the terms.

Smoking at William P. Airport

It is prohibited to smoke inside the airport or in close proximity to any entrances. The only place where smoking is allowed is in the designated areas outside on levels 1 and 2.

Service Animal Relief Areas at William P. Hobby Airport

Service Animals have a relief area located near ground transportation curb zone 4 and the Red Garage outside on the lower level.

Little Library at William P. Hobby Airport

A free library where passengers can pick up a book or leave a book is located near Gate 44 on level 2.

ATMs at William P. Hobby Airport

ATMs/cash machines are located in the Main Lobby, near Gates 1 and 21 and in the Baggage Claim area.

Four areas have ATM/cash machines. For departing travelers they can be found in the Main Lobby, pre-security, and near Gates 1 and 21, post-security. The last area is the Baggage Claim.

Food, Beverages and Shopping at William P. Hobby Airport

Pre-security doesn’t have much to offer in terms of places to eat, drink and shop, although there are a few vending machines around. Post security has a range of options available.

Lost and Found Office at William P. Hobby Airport

The airport’s Lost and Found Office sits on the east side of Baggage Claim next to American Airlines Baggage Office.

Chapel at William P. Hobby Airport

One chapel is located near Gate 46 in the Central Concourse and one is in Baggage Claim.

Water Bottle Filling Stations at William P. Hobby Airport

Fill your water bottle up in water filling stations found throughout the airport.

Closest International Airport to William P. Hobby Airport

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, IAH, is the international airport closest to HOU. It is located only 48 km/30 mi away.

Things to do in Houston

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Houston, Texas in the United States of America.

William P. Hobby Airport Contacts

Address: William P. Hobby Airport, 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061, USA
General phone: +1 713-640-3000
Lost and found phone: 1-833-274-7020
Official website: https://www.fly2houston.com/hou/overview

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: US Dollar, USD, $