William P. Hobby Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Houston, Texas, United States}} {{For|the larger international airport serving Houston|George Bush Intercontinental Airport}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox airport | name = William P. Hobby Airport | nativename = | image = Houston airports logo blue.png | image-width = 150 | image2 = HobbyAirportAerial01.JPG | image2-width = 250 | IATA = HOU | ICAO = KHOU | FAA = HOU | WMO = 72244 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | image_map = File:Houston Hobby Airport new airport diagram.jpg | image_map_caption = FAA diagram as of 2026 | type = Public | operator = [[Houston Airport System]] | owner = City of Houston | city-served = [[Greater Houston]] | location = [[Houston]], Harris County, Texas, U.S. | opened = {{start date and age|1927|06|}} | operating_base = [[Southwest Airlines]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Southwest Airlines Announces New Crew Base for Pilots and Flight Attendants at Nashville International Airport (BNA) |date=August 14, 2023 |url=http://swamedia.com/releases/nashville-crew-base?lang=en-US |language=en |access-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106094620/https://swamedia.com/releases/nashville-crew-base?lang=en-US |url-status=dead }}</ref> | elevation-f = 46 | elevation-m = 14 | coordinates = {{coord|29|38|44|N|95|16|44|W|type:airport_region:US-TX|display=title,inline}} | website = {{URL|www.fly2houston.com/hou}} | r1-number = 04/22 | r1-length-f = 7,602 | r1-length-m = 2,317 | r1-surface = [[Concrete]] | r2-number = 13L/31R | r2-length-f = 5,148 | r2-length-m = 1,569 | r2-surface = [[Concrete]] | r3-number = 13R/31L | r3-length-f = 7,602 | r3-length-m = 2,317 | r3-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]] | stat-year = 2025 | stat1-header = Aircraft operations | stat1-data = 196,253 | stat2-header = Total Passengers | stat2-data = 13,943,759 | footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=HOU|use=PU|own=PU|site=24071.*A}}, effective January 22, 2026.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fly2houston.com/airport-business/newsroom/media-center|title=Traffic and Statistics for HOU and IAH|website=fly2houston.com|accessdate= March 16, 2026}}</ref> }}

'''William P. Hobby Airport''' {{airport codes|HOU|KHOU|HOU}}, colloquially referred to as '''Houston Hobby Airport''', is an airport in the Greater Hobby neighborhood in [[Houston]], Texas, located approximately {{convert|7|mi|km|abbr=off}} from [[Downtown Houston|Houston city center]].<ref>"[http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/08/09/daily11.html Frontier Airlines to change airports in Houston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124555/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/08/09/daily11.html |date=October 26, 2012 }}." ''[[Denver Business Journal]]''. Monday August 9, 2010. Retrieved on March 27, 2011.</ref> Hobby is Houston's oldest commercial airport, and was its primary airport until the Houston Intercontinental Airport, now known as the [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]], opened in 1969. Hobby was initially closed after the opening of Houston Intercontinental; however, it was re-opened after several years, and became a secondary airport for domestic airline service, and a center for [[Commercial aviation|corporate]] and [[private aviation]].

Houston Hobby is an operating base for [[Southwest Airlines]], which has international and domestic flights from HOU, and carries the vast majority of its passengers. {{As of|December 2017}}, Houston Hobby is the fifth largest airport in Southwest's network.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.swamedia.com/channels/Corporate-Fact-Sheet/pages/corporate-fact-sheet#top10 |title=Southwest Airlines Newsroom |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223133522/https://www.swamedia.com/channels/Corporate-Fact-Sheet/pages/corporate-fact-sheet#top10 |archive-date=December 23, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Southwest opened its first international terminal at Houston Hobby, and began service from Houston Hobby to [[Mexico]] and [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]] on October 15, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maxon|first=Terry|title=Southwest Airlines, Houston officials break ground on new Hobby international terminal|url=http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/southwest-airlines-houston-officials-break-ground-on-new-hobby-international-terminal.html/|access-date=February 24, 2014|newspaper=Dallas Morning News (blog)|date=September 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230213433/http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/southwest-airlines-houston-officials-break-ground-on-new-hobby-international-terminal.html/|archive-date=December 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The William P. Hobby Airport covers {{convert|1304|acre}}, and has three runways.<ref name="FAA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/HOU/William-P-Hobby-Airport|title=HOU airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> Its original art deco terminal building, the first passenger airline terminal in Houston, now houses the [[1940 Air Terminal Museum]].

Hobby became the first 5-Star Airport in North America by [[Skytrax]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-01-07|title=Houston William P. Hobby Airport is the first 5-Star Airport in North America|url=https://skytraxratings.com/houston-hobby-airport-becomes-the-first-5-star-airport-in-north-america|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Skytrax|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History== [[File:1940 Air Terminal Museum.jpg|thumb|left|The [[1940 Air Terminal Museum]], originally an air terminal opened in 1940]]

Hobby Airport opened in June 1927 as a private landing field in a {{convert|600|acre|adj=on}} 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.<ref name="HobbyHistory">"[http://www.fly2houston.com/houHistoryOfHobby History of Hobby Airport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230013/http://www.fly2houston.com/houHistoryOfHobby |date=2013-12-02 }}," ''Houston Airport System''</ref> The airport was renamed '''Howard R. Hughes Airport''' in 1938. [[Howard Hughes]] was responsible for several improvements to the airport, including its first control tower, built in 1938.<ref name="HobbyHistory"/> The airport's name changed back to Houston Municipal because Hughes was still alive at the time and regulations did not allow federal improvement funds for an airport named after a living person.

The city of Houston opened a new air terminal and hangar in 1940.

===Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in 1943=== The first three [[Women Airforce Service Pilots]] (WASP) training classes were held at the Houston Municipal Airport in 1943.

===Airlines in the 1940s and 1950s=== In June 1948, [[Braniff International Airways]] began international flights from Houston operated with [[Douglas DC-4]] and [[Douglas DC-6|DC-6]]s to South America via Cuba and Panama.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In the June 1948 timetable, the airline had two flights a week to [[Havana, Cuba]] – [[Panama City, Panama]] (via [[Balboa, Canal Zone]]) – [[Guayaquil, Ecuador]] – [[Lima, Peru]], and a third flight that skipped Guayaquil. In 1949, Braniff flew direct via Lima to [[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]], and [[La Paz, Bolivia]].<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In 1950, [[Pan American World Airways]] ([[Pan Am]]) began nonstop Douglas DC-4 service to [[Mexico City]]. On October 1, 1950, [[Chicago and Southern Air Lines]] began flying new [[Lockheed Constellation]]s nonstop to St. Louis and direct to Chicago [[Midway Airport]].<ref name="timetableimages.com">{{Cite web |title=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> Chicago & Southern flew nonstop to New Orleans, the sole purpose being to connect to the airline's daily [[Douglas DC-4]] "Caribbean Comet" flights between New Orleans and Havana, Cuba; [[Kingston, Jamaica]], and [[Caracas, Venezuela]], as Chicago & Southern did not then have local traffic rights between Houston and New Orleans.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In 1953, Chicago & Southern (C&S) was acquired by and merged into [[Delta Air Lines]], giving Delta access to Houston for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.deltamuseum.org/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.deltamuseum.org}}</ref> In 1954, Delta, operating as "Delta C&S", was flying a daily [[Convair 340]] Houston – New Orleans – Havana, Cuba – [[Port au Prince, Haiti]] – [[Ciudad Trujillo]] (now [[Santo Domingo]]), [[Dominican Republic]] – [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Timetable Images}}</ref> Also in 1954, an expanded terminal building opened to support the 53,640 airline flights that carried 910,047 passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/epwhe|title=WILLIAM P. HOBBY AIRPORT|first=LEATHERWOOD|last=ART|date=June 15, 2010|website=Tshaonline|access-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508091807/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/epwhe|archive-date=May 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The airport was renamed Houston International Airport the same year.

The April 1957 ''[[Official Airline Guide]]'' lists 26 weekday departures on Eastern, 20 on Braniff (plus four departures a week to/from South America), nine on [[Continental Airlines]], nine on Delta Air Lines, nine on [[Trans-Texas Airways]], four on [[National Airlines (1934–1980)|National Airlines]], two on [[Pan American World Airways]] and one on [[American Airlines]]. There were nonstops to New York City and Washington, D.C., but not to Chicago or Denver or anywhere west of Colorado. Later in 1957, [[KLM Royal Dutch Airlines]] started [[Douglas DC-7C]] flights to [[Amsterdam]] via [[Montreal]]. In 1958, Delta was operating daily nonstop [[Douglas DC-7]]s to New York City and weekly DC-7s direct to Caracas, Venezuela, via New Orleans (Delta called this latter service the "El Petrolero")<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> while Eastern Douglas DC-7s and [[Lockheed Constellation]]s flew nonstop to New York City.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/>

===The jet age arrives===

Houston's first scheduled jets were Delta [[Douglas DC-8]]s nonstop to New York in December 1959 (Cearley says they began on December 1). [[Braniff International]] introduced [[Boeing 707]]s in April 1960, nonstop to [[Dallas Love Field]] and direct to Chicago [[O'Hare Airport]]; Braniff [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] [[propjet]]s flew nonstop to Chicago [[Midway Airport]] and Dallas Love Field, and direct to [[Denver]], [[Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[Kansas City]] and [[Lubbock]].<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In June 1960, [[Eastern Airlines]] [[Douglas DC-8]]s flew nonstop to New York City [[Idlewild Airport]] and to Atlanta, in addition to [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]s nonstop to Washington, D.C. [[National Airport]] with one-stop Electras to Newark.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> In July 1960, [[KLM]] introduced Douglas DC-8 flights to Amsterdam via Montreal before moving to Houston Intercontinental Airport (now [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]]), where they remain today with nonstop [[Boeing 787]] flights to Amsterdam.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> On May 15, 1960, [[Delta Air Lines]] operated the world's first [[Convair 880]] scheduled passenger flight nonstop to New York City [[Idlewild Airport]] from Hobby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delta Air Lines {{!}} Flights & Plane Tickets + Hotels & Rental Cars |url=https://www.delta.com/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.delta.com}}</ref> Delta would introduce Convair 880 flights nonstop to Chicago [[O'Hare Airport]], St. Louis and New Orleans from Houston in addition to its service to New York City.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/>

In June 1961, [[National Airlines (1934–1980)|National Airlines]] Douglas DC-8s and Continental 707s began flying nonstop to Los Angeles, and National Electras flew nonstop to Las Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco. These were Houston's first nonstops beyond El Paso.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In 1963, Continental [[Vickers Viscount]]s operated a "[[milk run]]" multi-stop service on a routing of Houston-Austin-San Angelo-Midland/Odessa-El Paso-Tucson-Phoenix-Los Angeles while Continental Viscounts also flew direct to Lubbock and Amarillo.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In summer 1965, [[American Airlines]] only had one jet flight a day from Hobby, a [[Boeing 707]] flying Houston-San Antonio-El Paso-Phoenix-Oakland-San Francisco.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> Eastern [[Boeing 727-100]]s flew nonstop to Washington D.C. [[Dulles Airport]], New Orleans and Corpus Christi and direct to New York [[Newark Airport]] and Boston.<ref>http://www.60sairlineantique.net {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711054056/http://www.60sairlineantique.net/ |date=July 11, 2017 }}, June 1, 1965 Eastern Air Lines timetable</ref> Eastern [[Boeing 720]]s flew nonstop to New York [[JFK Airport]], Atlanta, New Orleans and San Antonio and direct to Boston and Philadelphia.<ref>http://www.60sairlineantiques.net {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401065953/http://www.60sairlineantiques.net/ |date=April 1, 2019 }}, June 1, 1965 Eastern timetable</ref> By 1966, Houston-based [[Trans-Texas Airways]] (''TTa'') had introduced [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s with nonstop flights to Dallas Love Field, Corpus Christi and Baton Rouge and direct to New Orleans.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> In 1966, Braniff was operating flights via [[Transport hub|interchange]] agreements with both [[Pan American World Airways]] ([[Pan Am]]) and [[United Airlines]] from Hobby. The service with Pan Am flew to [[London, England]], and [[Frankfurt, Germany]], daily with [[Boeing 707]]s via at Dallas Love Field and Chicago O'Hare Airport.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> The joint operation with United was flown with [[Boeing 720]]s twice daily Houston-Dallas-Denver-Seattle and Houston-Dallas-Denver-Portland, OR-Seattle.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> The same year, Braniff [[BAC One-Eleven]]s flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field, Fort Worth (via [[Greater Southwest International Airport]]), Tulsa and Corpus Christi and direct to Chicago O'Hare Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis and Wichita.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/>

In 1967, the airport was renamed after a former [[Texas]] governor, [[William P. Hobby]].

Besides the Braniff/Pan Am and KLM services to Europe, the airport had other long flights: Braniff was flying nonstop from Hobby to [[Panama City, Panama]], with Boeing 707s and Boeing 720s in the late 1960s.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> Braniff's April 1969 timetable lists nonstop 707 service to Hawaii;<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> however, Braniff flights from Houston to Hawaii did not actually start until September 1, after the move to IAH.<ref>George W. Cearley, ''Braniff 1965-1986''</ref> (Hobby's 7600-ft runways would have been too short for 707 nonstop service to Hawaii.){{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), now George Bush Intercontinental Airport, opened in June 1969; the airlines moved to Intercontinental and Hobby was left with no scheduled passenger service. The [[Civil Aeronautics Administration (United States)|Civil Aeronautics Administration]] recommended years earlier that Houston plan to replace Hobby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William P. Hobby Airport |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/william-p-hobby-airport |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:HobbyAirportnewent.JPG|left|thumb|The Hobby Airport terminal]]

====International service in the 1960s==== Previously, [[KLM]] and [[Pan American World Airways]] ([[Pan Am]]) operated international flights from the International Building at Hobby until the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blogsouthwest.com/flashback-fridays-early-candid-views-houston-hobby/|title=Flashback Fridays: Early Candid Views of Houston Hobby|date=November 30, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192122/http://www.blogsouthwest.com/flashback-fridays-early-candid-views-houston-hobby/|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1966, [[Pan Am]] was operating a daily [[Boeing 707]] flight nonstop to [[Mexico City]] with continuing, no change of plane service to [[Guatemala City, Guatemala]]; [[San Salvador, El Salvador]]; [[Managua, Nicaragua]]; [[San José, Costa Rica]]; and [[Panama City, Panama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/pa/pa66/|title=Index of August 1, 1966 Pan American system timetable|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021193527/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/pa/pa66/|archive-date=October 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1969, both airlines moved to IAH and the International Building was demolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/savvy/archives/winter07/win07_heritage.htm |title=At 80, Hobby is still flying high |access-date=May 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044548/http://www.houstontx.gov/savvy/archives/winter07/win07_heritage.htm |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref> [[Braniff International]] operated international service as well from the airport and in the spring of 1966 was operating nonstop Boeing 707 and [[Boeing 720]] jet service twice a week to Panama City, Panama, with connections in Panama to other Braniff flights to South America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/bn/bn66/|title=Index of April 24, 1966 Braniff International Airways system timetable|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326081056/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/bn/bn66/|archive-date=March 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 1966, Braniff was operating a joint international service via an [[wikt:interchange|interchange]] agreement with Pan Am to [[London, England]], and [[Frankfurt, Germany]], on a daily basis with Boeing 707 jetliners via intermediate stops at [[Dallas Love Field]] and [[Chicago O'Hare Airport]].<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> [[Aeronaves de Mexico]] (now [[Aeromexico]]) served Hobby as well with flights to [[Mexico]] and in the spring of 1968 was operating [[Douglas DC-9-10]] jet service nonstop to [[Monterrey]] with continuing, no change of plane service several days a week to [[Guadalajara]] and [[Acapulco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/am/am6804/|title=Index of April 28, 1968 Aeronaves de Mexico system timetable|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021193526/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/am/am6804/|archive-date=October 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Trans-Texas Airways]] also served Mexico and in 1968 was operating direct, no change of plane service from Hobby with [[Convair 600]] turboprops eleven times a week to [[Monterrey]] and six times a week to [[Tampico]] and [[Veracruz]] via south Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ti1/tt68/|title=Index of August 1968 Trans-Texas Airways system timetable|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021193526/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ti1/tt68/|archive-date=October 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Resumption of airline service===

The first airline to resume passenger flights was [[Houston Metro Airlines]], a commuter airline, which in early 1970 was flying "cross town" service with [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]s between Hobby and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) with 14 weekday round trips.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/>

Jet airline service resumed on November 14, 1971, when [[Southwest Airlines]] operating as an [[intrastate airline]] began nonstop [[Boeing 737-200]]s to [[Dallas Love Field]] (DAL) and San Antonio (Southwest had initially launched service between Intercontinental Airport and Dallas Love Field before serving Hobby).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southwest Airlines {{!}} Book Flights, Make Reservations & Plan a Trip |url=https://www.southwest.com/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Southwest Airlines |language=en}}</ref> Both [[Braniff International]] and [[Texas International]] resumed jet service into Hobby with nonstops to Dallas in competition with Southwest.<ref name="departedflights.com"/>

By fall 1979, Braniff and Texas International had ceased serving Hobby, however, two other jet airlines, [[Hughes Airwest]] and [[Ozark Air Lines]], had joined Southwest at the airport, with Southwest operating [[Boeing 727-200]]s as well as 737-200s nonstop to Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas Love Field, Harlingen, Lubbock, San Antonio and its first destination outside Texas, New Orleans.<ref name="departedflights.com">{{Cite web |title=index |url=http://www.departedflights.com/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> Hughes Airwest (owned by [[Howard Hughes]]) was flying nonstop to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson and direct to Burbank (now [[Bob Hope Airport]]) and Orange County (now [[John Wayne Airport]]) while Ozark was flying nonstop to its hub in St. Louis; both airlines flew [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]]s.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> Hughes Airwest was acquired by and merged into [[Republic Airlines (1979-1986)|Republic Airlines]] which in 1983 had a [[focus city]] operation at Hobby with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s, [[DC-9-50]]s and [[MD-80]]s nonstop to Chicago [[O'Hare Airport]] (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit, Las Vegas, Memphis, New Orleans and Phoenix.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> By 1984, another airline flew nonstop Hobby to St. Louis: Air 1 [[Boeing 727-100]]s.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> A number of commuter airlines were flying from Hobby to smaller cities in Texas and Louisiana, including Chaparral Airlines, Commutair, Eagle Commuter, Hammonds Air Service, Metroplex Airlines and Tejas Airlines.<ref name="departedflights.com"/>

In 1987, [[Continental Airlines]] had a "dual hub" operation in Houston with a hub at [[Intercontinental Airport]] (IAH) and a second hub at Hobby.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> In February 1987, Continental had nonstops from Hobby to Austin, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York [[LaGuardia Airport]], San Antonio and Washington D.C. [[National Airport]]. Nonstop "cross town" shuttle service was also being flown between HOU and IAH with [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s by [[Emerald Air (United States)|Emerald Air]] operating as the "Houston Proud Express" or Continental with these flights using "CO" flight numbers with seven round trips a day. CO one-stops flew from Hobby to Bozeman, MT, Orlando, Sacramento and Tucson. Continental was operating up to 37 departures a day from HOU with Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s, 737-200s, [[737-300]]s, Douglas DC-9-10s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s. The airline shut down its hub at Hobby and was not serving the airport by the early 1990s although its regional affiliate [[Continental Express]] would return with "cross town" turboprop flights to IAH by the mid-1990s followed later by limited Continental mainline jet service.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> Also in 1987, [[Pan Am]] was once again serving Hobby with daily nonstop Boeing 727-200 and Boeing 737-200 service from the airport to Miami, New York [[JFK Airport]] and Washington [[Dulles Airport]] with the flight to New York continuing on a direct one stop, no change of plane basis to [[Bermuda]].<ref>https://www.departedflights.com/PA020187.html {{dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

In the fall of 1991, the OAG listed main line flights to Hobby on [[American Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Northwest Airlines]], [[Trans World Airlines]] (TWA) and [[United Airlines]] in addition to Southwest.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> Other airlines jets at Hobby in the 1980s included [[Air Florida]], [[Braniff]], [[Eastern Air Lines]], [[Emerald Air (USA)|Emerald Air]] (operating independently and also on behalf of [[Continental Airlines]] as the aforementioned "Houston Proud Express" with DC-9s between HOU and IAH), the original [[Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)|Frontier Airlines]], [[Muse Air]], [[People Express]], [[Republic Airlines (1979-1986)|Republic Airlines]] and [[TranStar Airlines]].<ref>http://www.departed flights, April 1, 1981 & February 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide</ref> [[Alaska Airlines]] also served Hobby in 1990 via an [[Transport hub|interchange]] agreement with American Airlines which enabled direct Boeing 727-200s to Anchorage and Fairbanks via Dallas/Ft. Worth and Seattle.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> At one point, Continental Airlines was operating [[Boeing 737-300]]s between Hobby and Houston Intercontinental and flying nonstop HOU to its Newark hub. In 2008 the airport handled 8.8 million passengers.<ref>{{cite web | title=fly2houston | url=http://www.fly2houston.com/houAbout | publisher=Houston Airport System | year=2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222065708/http://www.fly2houston.com/houAbout | archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</ref> Only domestic US destinations and international destinations with border preclearance were being served, but in fall 2015 Southwest opened a new international terminal allowing it to fly to foreign cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2018325879_websouthwest31.html |title=Southwest to offer international flights from Houston |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716055453/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2018325879_websouthwest31.html |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The headquarters for [[TranStar Airlines]] (formerly [[Muse Air]] before this new start up air carrier was acquired by [[Southwest Airlines]]) were at the airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museair.com|title=MuseAir.com|website=www.museair.com|access-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231233722/http://museair.com/|archive-date=December 31, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Muse Air followed by TranStar operated a [[Airline hub|hub]] at Hobby flying [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]]s, DC-9-50s and DC-9-30s nonstop to Austin, Brownsville, Texas, Dallas Love Field, Las Vegas, Los Angeles ([[LAX]]), Lubbock, Ontario, California, McAllen, Texas, Miami, Midland/Odessa, New Orleans, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, Tampa and Tulsa with direct service to San Diego and San Jose, California, at various times during the 1980s.<ref name="departedflights.com"/> Several other airlines were based at the airport in the past as well, including [[Pioneer Air Lines]] and [[Trans-Texas Airways]] (''TTa'') with the latter then changing its name to [[Texas International Airlines]]. Trans-Texas followed by Texas International operated a hub at the airport as well.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/><ref name="departedflights.com"/> Pioneer and Texas International merged with Continental Airlines, Pioneer in 1955 and Texas International in 1982. Continental continued to use the former Texas International maintenance base at Hobby after the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airliners.net {{!}} Aviation Photography, Discussion Forums & News |url=https://www.airliners.net/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Airliners.net}}</ref>

===21st century=== [[File:Inside William P. Hobby Airport.jpg|thumb|Interior of the airport terminal|alt=]] In May 2011, [[Southwest Airlines]] expressed interest in initiating new international flights from Hobby.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airport Director Report to The Budget and Fiscal Affairs Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee Proposed International Terminal at Hobby|url=http://system.gocampaign.com/file/512783|publisher=Houston Airport System|access-date=August 5, 2013|date=April 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227095741/http://system.gocampaign.com/file/512783|archive-date=December 27, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 9, 2012, Houston Director of Aviation Mario Diaz announced support of international flights from Hobby after multiple studies of the economic impact on the entire city of Houston. On this day Southwest Airlines also debuted its new campaign, called Free Hobby. Supporters were asked to sign a petition. Southwest also started a website just for supporters of international flights from Hobby, freehobbyairport.com.<ref>[http://freehobbyairport.com freehobbyairport.com].</ref>

United Airlines, Houston's other major carrier, which would later be forced to compete with Southwest on proposed international routes, objected to the expansion plans, citing a study which concludes that the change would cost the Houston area jobs and result in a net reduction in GRP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1691599&highlight= |title=United Continental Holdings, Inc. – Investor Relations – News |publisher=Ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709181420/http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1691599&highlight= |archive-date=July 9, 2012 }}</ref>

Houston Mayor [[Annise Parker]] backed Southwest's fight to make Hobby an international airport on May 23, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/archive/8672739/ |title=Houston Mayor Annise Parker gives details of $100 million Hobby Airport expansion | abc13.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=May 23, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301184848/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8672739 |archive-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 30, 2012, Houston's city council approved Southwest's request for international flights from Hobby.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/archive/8681485/ |title=City Council approves Hobby Airport expansion to allow Southwest international flights; United says it will cut jobs | abc13.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301185026/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8681485 |archive-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The groundbreaking of the terminal expansion began in September 2013.<ref name="Houston Airport System">{{cite web|title=Hobby International Airport is Underway: Southwest Airlines will break ground September 2013|url=http://www.fly2houston.com/hobbyinternational |department=fly2houston |publisher=Houston Airport System |access-date=August 5, 2013|date=June 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731070059/http://www.fly2houston.com/HobbyInternational|archive-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref> Five new gates (two arrival/departure gates and three arrival only gates) were added to accommodate both [[Boeing 737]] and [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://system.gocampaign.com/file/514948 |title=Proposed FIS Facility |publisher=Houston Airport System |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=August 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227093820/http://system.gocampaign.com/file/514948 |archive-date=December 27, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The expansion was estimated to have cost $156 million and was paid for by Southwest Airlines.<ref name="Houston Airport System"/> The expansion also included constructing a new parking garage as well as a re-organization and expansion of the security checkpoint and Southwest Airlines' check-in counter. Vertical construction was officially completed on October 15, 2015, and Southwest launched international flights that same day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2015/03/hobbys-new-international-terminal-already.html |title=Hobby's new international terminal already attracting other airlines |last=Martin |first=Joe |date=May 10, 2015 |website=bizjournals.com |access-date=March 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501205357/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2015/03/hobbys-new-international-terminal-already.html |archive-date=May 1, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Your access to this site has been limited by the site owner |url=https://www.oaoa.com/news/state/article_9cdba4cf-c323-576a-b289-84279f831336.html |access-date=2024-04-04}}</ref>

[[Frontier Airlines]] announced its return to the airport with direct flights to [[Cancún International Airport|Cancun]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], and [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]] starting in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mazó|first=Edgardo Gimenez|date=2022-01-18|title=Frontier will operate flights between Cancun and Houston/Hobby|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/01/frontier-will-operate-flights-between-cancun-and-houston-hobby/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Aviacionline.com|language=es}}</ref> Just two months later Frontier Airlines announced a fourth flight from Hobby with a new [[Denver International Airport|Denver]] route starting in September.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/07/19/frontier-airlines-houston-denver-hobby-airport.html |title=Frontier Airlines adds new Houston-Denver route from Hobby Airport |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>

==Facilities== ===Terminal=== William P. Hobby Airport has a single terminal with two concourses (Central and West) and 30 overall gates.<ref name="HOUMap">{{cite web |title=Houston Airport - HOU Interactive Map |url=https://houmaps.fly2houston.com/?vid=hou&s=eyJnbG9iYWwiOnsiaGVhZGluZyI6MCwicG9zaXRpb24iOlsyOS42NTM3NzUsLTk1LjI3NjY3N10sImlzTW9iaWxlV2lkdGgiOmZhbHNlLCJsZXZlbElkIjoiaG91LXRlcm1pbmFsLWxldmVsMiJ9LCJsZXZlbFNlbGVjdG9yIjp7ImlzT3BlbiI6ZmFsc2V9LCJzZWFyY2giOnt9LCJwb2kiOnt9LCJuYXZpZ2F0aW9uIjp7InNlZ0luZGV4IjowLCJuYXZpZ2F0aW9uT25Hb2luZyI6ZmFsc2V9fQ |access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> The Central Concourse opened in 2003 and replaced the original three concourses, which dated back to the 1950s. It has 25 gates and mostly serves Southwest domestic along with non-Southwest flights<ref>{{cite web|date=2005-03-10|title=Houston Airport System|url=http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/news/?id=6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310113127/http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/news/?id=6|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-03-10|access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref> and also includes an [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] [[chapel]].<ref>"[http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8420/0/1904D1911D2109/ Interfaith Chapel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208212131/http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8420/0/1904D1911D2109/ |date=2008-02-08 }}" of William P. Hobby Airport. ''Houston Airport System''</ref> The West Concourse opened on October 15, 2015, and is primarily used for international Southwest flights. It has five gates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hobby Airport opens international terminal |date=October 15, 2015 |url=https://abc13.com/hobby-airport-mexico-costa-rica/1034176/ |access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref>

In February 2020, Hobby Airport became the first airport in Texas to have full biometric entry and exit for passengers who are traveling internationally.<ref>{{cite press release |author= |date=2020-02-20 |title=Hobby Airport Launches Simplified Arrivals for International Passengers |url=https://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/releases/hobby-airport-launches-simplified-arrivals-international-passengers |url-status=live |location=[[Houston]], Texas |publisher=[[Houston Airport System]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923025323/https://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/releases/hobby-airport-launches-simplified-arrivals-international-passengers |archive-date=2020-09-23 |access-date=2020-09-23 | df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In March 2022, Southwest announced a $250 million expansion project to add seven gates to Hobby's West Concourse. The city of Houston is contributing $20 million toward the project. Six of the gates will be used exclusively by Southwest for domestic flights. The seventh new gate will be available for use by other airlines at the discretion of the Houston Airport System. The project is expected to take five years.<ref>[https://www.chron.com/life/travel/article/southwest-airlines-hobby-airport-houston-16972409.php Southwest Airlines embarks on $250 million terminal expansion at Hobby Airport]</ref> The project cost increased to $470 million when construction began in November 2024 with completion scheduled for 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Hailea |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Construction Begins on Hobby Airport's $470M Expansion Project |url=https://www.houston.org/news/construction-begins-hobby-airports-470m-expansion-project |archive-date= |access-date=June 25, 2025 |website=Greater Houston Partnership}}</ref>

===Ground transportation=== The [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]], or METRO, stops at Curb Zone 3 at the airport.<ref name="Ground transport">"[https://www.fly2houston.com/hou/shuttles-buses]." ''William P. Hobby Airport''. Retrieved on November 22, 2008.</ref> Currently, there are four bus lines that serve Hobby Airport. 40 Telephone/Heights provides local service to Eastwood Transit Center, Downtown, and North Shepard Park and Ride. 50 Broadway also provides service between the airport and Eastwood Transit Center via the [[Magnolia Park Transit Center]]. 73 Bellfort, which runs up to a 12-minute frequency during weekday, runs between the airport and Fannin South Transit Center, connecting to the Metro Rail Red Line. 88 Sagemont runs between the airport and San Jacinto College South Campus.

Courtesy vans are operated by various hotels and motels in and around the Houston area. There are [[courtesy telephone]]s in the baggage claim areas to request pickup for most hotels and motels.<ref name="Ground transport"/>

Shared-ride shuttle service was available at HOU until 2019 when SuperShuttle (now [[Transdev]]) ceased business, citing competition from ride-sharing services [[Uber]] and [[Lyft]]. Additionally, regularly scheduled bus and shuttle service is provided by various carriers to locations from HOU to areas outside metropolitan Houston and to Galveston and College Station. These services can be found in the baggage claim area.<ref name="Ground transport"/>

Taxis are available at Curb Zone 2.<ref name="Ground transport"/> Lyft and Uber are available at Curb Zone 5.

===Other=== There are several artistic pieces located in and on the William P. Hobby Airport grounds. Artists Paul Kittleson and Carter Ernst created ''Take-off'', a stainless steel [[bird nest|bird's nest]] showing interwoven branches created using industrial materials. The nest is {{convert|30|ft|m}} wide and is held {{convert|20|ft|m}} above the ground by three steel tree trunks. The nest is depicted floating above a subtropical garden. The artists created the work to depict the spirit of [[Economy of Houston|Houston's industrial force along the coastal plain]]. ''Take-off'' is located at Hobby's Broadway Street entrance.<ref name="art">"[http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3903169/0/83280D83284/ Hobby Airport Unveils New Original Artwork]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110303200643/http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3903169/0/83280D83284/ Archive]) ''[[Houston Airport System]]''. March 25, 2010. Retrieved on March 7, 2011.</ref>

The [[Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center]] serves as the airport's [[Area Control Center|ARTCC]].<ref>"[http://www.airnav.com/airport/KHOU KHOU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306223845/http://www.airnav.com/airport/KHOU |date=March 6, 2008 }}," ''Airnav.com''</ref>

==Airlines and destinations== ===Passenger===  {{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable = yes  | [[Allegiant Air]] | [[Provo Municipal Airport|Provo]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pugmire |first1=Genelle |title=Allegiant adds three new destinations for flights from Provo |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/2021/nov/18/allegiant-adds-three-new-destinations-for-flights-from-provo/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Herald Extra |date=18 November 2021 |location=Provo, UT |language=en}}</ref> [[Jack Edwards Airport|Gulf Shores]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Report |first1=GCM Staff |title=Allegiant begins nonstop service from Gulf Shores airport, tickets as low as $39 |url=https://gulfcoastmedia.com/stories/allegiant-begins-nonstop-service-from-gulf-shores-to-six-destinations-with-one-way-fares-as-low-as,266976#// |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Gulf Coast Media |date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Asheville Regional Airport|Asheville]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hofmann |first1=Will |title=Allegiant Air begins new nonstop flight from Asheville Airport to Minneapolis |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/02/19/allegiant-air-begins-new-nonstop-flight-option-to-the-twin-cities/72630270007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z116868d00----v116868d--76--b--76--&gca-ft=243&gca-ds=sophi |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=The Asheville Citizen Times |date=4 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> [[Des Moines International Airport|Des Moines]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reyna-Rodriguez |first1=Victoria |title=Four new direct flights from Des Moines airport start soon. See the new routes. |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/travel/2025/05/05/des-moines-international-airport-new-direct-routes-starting-2025/83410112007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z116046p000050c000050d00----v116046d--xx--b--xx--&gca-ft=186&gca-ds=sophi |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=The Des Moines Register |date=5 May 2025 |location=Des Moines, IA}}</ref> [[McGhee Tyson Airport|Knoxville]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Chloe |title=Allegiant Air is coming to Hobby Airport with seasonal fares starting as low as $33! |url=https://www.khou.com/article/travel/allegiant-air-bringing-4-new-routes-to-houstons-hobby-airport/285-0a2c4a00-0fda-445e-bdfc-99dbd527302d |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=KHOU |publisher=KHOU |date=14 January 2020 |location=Houston, TX |language=en}}</ref>|  | [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]| <ref>{{cite news |last1=writerAug. 29 |first1=Jordan ParkerAviation |title=Why Dallas Love Field doesn't have international flights |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2025/08/29/why-dallas-love-field-doesnt-have-international-flights/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Dallas News |date=29 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> | [[Avelo Airlines]] | [[Tweed New Haven Airport|New Haven]]<ref name="AveloMar24">{{cite news|url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/avelo-3-new-routes-tweed-new-haven-19264536.php?fbclid=IwAR25EXJ9iupyPZSWg-BEpX_qH5vjAMcRRFPHJoP6P3G82Lp1iP_F2WLy7O4|title=Avelo announces 3 new routes from Tweed New Haven Airport: Houston, St. Louis and Traverse City, Mich.|website=New Haven Register|date=March 20, 2024|access-date=March 20, 2024|last1=Zaretsky|first1=Mark}}</ref> |  | [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]| <ref>{{cite news |title=Delta hikes prices to Houston for National Championship |url=https://www.13wmaz.com/article/travel/delta-prices-462-from-atlanta-to-houston/93-f36a3df5-5afb-43e6-aae8-c9ad7dec7aa2 |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=WMAZ |date=7 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>  | [[JSX (airline)|JSX]] | [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]]| <ref>{{cite news |last1=News-Sun |first1=Hobbs |title=JSX to add Wednesday flights to Dallas – www.hobbsnews.com |url=https://www.hobbsnews.com/jsx-to-add-wednesday-flights-to-dallas/ |access-date=28 March 2026 |date=17 September 2025}}</ref>  | {{nowrap|[[Southwest Airlines]]}} | [[Albuquerque International Sunport|Albuquerque]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]],<ref name="Hobbydest">{{cite news |last1=Balter |first1=Emma |title=All the Nonstop Flights from Houston Airports |url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/travel-and-outdoors/direct-flights-houston-airports |access-date=28 March 2026 |work=Houstonia Magazine |date=14 January 2026}}</ref> [[Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport|Baltimore]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport|Belize City]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport|Birmingham (AL)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Charleston International Airport|Charleston (SC)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Chicago Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Colorado Springs Airport|Colorado Springs]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[John Glenn Columbus International Airport|Columbus–Glenn]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Corpus Christi International Airport|Corpus Christi]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Denver International Airport|Denver]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/Fort Walton Beach]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[El Paso International Airport|El Paso]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Valley International Airport|Harlingen]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Indianapolis International Airport|Indianapolis]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sergio |first1=Arianna |title=Southwest resumes nonstop flight from Indianapolis to Chicago Midway |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/travel/southwest-brings-back-nonstop-flight-indianapolis-international-airport-chicago-midway-nearly-5-year-hiatus-travel-flying-indiana-illinois-midwest/531-13a8c717-26fd-42bd-bc39-17f20931e4af |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=WTHR |publisher=WTHR |date=18 December 2024 |location=Indianapolis, IN |language=en}}</ref> [[Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport|Jackson (MS)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Jacksonville International Airport|Jacksonville (FL)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Guanacaste Airport|Liberia (CR)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Long Beach Airport|Long Beach]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fine |first1=Howard |title=Southwest to Add Flights at Long Beach Airport |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/tourism/travel-tourism/southwest-add-flights-long-beach-airport/ |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |access-date=10 January 2026 |language=en |date=10 December 2020}}</ref> [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport|Louisville]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Patrick |title=Full Summer Schedule Is Now Available for Booking |url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/southwest-airlines-full-summer-schedule-is-now-available-for-booking |access-date=28 March 2026 |work=TravelPulse |date=16 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> [[Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport|Lubbock]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Adam |title=Where can you fly from Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/where-fly-lubbock-preston-smith-104524235.html |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Yahoo News |date=18 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Corey |title=Southwest Airlines announces new flights from Memphis airport to three cities |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/southwest-airlines-announces-flights-memphis-211057559.html |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Yahoo News |date=22 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Miami International Airport|Miami]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Midland International Air and Space Port|Midland/Odessa]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport|Oakland]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[OKC Will Rogers International Airport|Oklahoma City]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Jana |title=Looking to travel in 2024? See where in the US you can fly nonstop from Oklahoma City |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/01/04/will-rogers-airport-okc-nonstop-flights-available-these-cities/72095632007/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=4 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport|Panama City (FL)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Pensacola International Airport|Pensacola]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dougherty |first1=Evan |title=Southwest Celebrates Two Decades of Steady Growth in Pittsburgh |url=https://blueskypit.com/southwest-celebrates-two-decades-of-steady-growth-in-pittsburgh/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Blue Sky News |date=12 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Raleigh–Durham International Airport|Raleigh/Durham]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeBusk |first1=Justyn |title=You can fly nonstop to these destinations from Raleigh-Durham International Airport |url=https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/raleigh/you-can-fly-nonstop-to-these-destinations-from-raleigh-durham-international-airport/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=FOX 8 WGHP |publisher=WGHP |date=14 December 2023 |location=High Point, NC |language=en}}</ref> [[Sacramento International Airport|Sacramento]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose (CA)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport|Savannah]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport|St. Louis]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Galvan |first1=Jaime E. |title=Southwest Airlines flight returns to Houston after smoke reported in cabin |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/southwest-airlines-flight-2795-smoke-houston-hobby-airport-tampa/285-a033012f-62d1-4647-97cf-3e451fef2bac |access-date=28 March 2026 |work=KHOU |date=14 February 2025}}</ref> [[Tulsa International Airport|Tulsa]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=read |first1=Bella Roddy 1 min |title=Tulsa International Airport offers nonstop flights to major US cities |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/67ae24fd5312a975bee6b868/tulsa-international-airport-offers-nonstop-flights-to-major-us-cities |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Newson6.com |date=13 February 2025 |location=Tulsa, Oklahoma |language=en}}</ref> [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]<ref name="Hobbydest"/><br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport|Amarillo]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Vanessa |title=Southwest Airlines adds direct flight to Houston at Amarillo airport |url=https://www.newschannel10.com/2023/03/10/southwest-airlines-adds-direct-flight-houston-amarillo-airport/ |access-date=28 March 2026 |work=News Channel10 |date=10 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Clinton National Airport|Little Rock]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Sangster International Airport|Montego Bay]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Myrtle Beach International Airport|Myrtle Beach]] (begins June 27, 2026), <ref>https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-from-hou-to-myr</ref> [[Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport|Sarasota]],<ref name="Hobbydest"/> [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines offers new overnight flights, including Seattle to Houston next year |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/southwest-airlines-redeye-houston-19876977.php |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> [[Tucson International Airport|Tucson]]<ref name="Hobbydest"/>| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Balter |first1=Emma |title=267 Nonstop Flights from Houston Airports |url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/travel-and-outdoors/direct-flights-houston-airports |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=Houstonia Magazine |date=8 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>  | {{nowrap|[[Sun Country Airlines]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Sue |title=10 new nonstop routes for Sun Country, including 2 in Canada |url=https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/10-new-nonstop-routes-for-sun-country-including-2-in-canada/ |access-date=10 January 2026 |work=WDIO.com |date=17 October 2023 |location=Minneapolis, MN |language=en}}</ref> }}

==Statistics== ===Passenger numbers=== {{Airport-Statistics|iata=HOU}}

===Annual traffic=== {| class="wikitable" |+ HOU Airport Annual Passenger Traffic 2002–Present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/media-kit/traffic-and-statistics|title=HOU Airport Annual Passenger Statistics 2002-Present Via Houston Airport System (HAS) Statistics Dashboard|website=fly2houston.com|accessdate= January 22, 2026}}</ref> !Year !Passengers !% Change !Year !Passengers !% Change !Year !Passengers !% Change |- |2002||8,035,727||—||2012||10,437,648||{{increase}}{{0}}6.0%||2022||13,113,877||{{increase}}{{0}}16.0% |- |2003||7,803,330||{{decrease}}{{0}}2.9%||2013||11,109,449||{{increase}}{{0}}6.4%||2023||13,908,466||{{increase}}{{0}}6.1% |- |2004||8,290,559||{{increase}}{{0}}6.2%||2014||11,947,924||{{increase}}{{0}}7.5%||2024||'''14,612,605'''||{{increase}}{{0}}5.1% |- |2005||8,257,506||{{decrease}}{{0}}0.4%||2015||12,164,429||{{increase}}{{0}}1.8%||2025||13,943,759||{{decrease}}{{0}}4.6% |- |2006||8,548,955||{{increase}}{{0}}3.5%||2016||12,909,443||{{increase}}{{0}}6.1%||2026|||| |- |2007||8,819,521||{{increase}}{{0}}3.2%||2017||13,435,672||{{increase}}{{0}}4.1%||2027|||| |- |2008||8,775,798||{{decrease}}{{0}}0.5%||2018||14,476,469||{{increase}}{{0}}7.7%||2028|||| |- |2009||8,498,441||{{decrease}}{{0}}3.2%||2019||14,455,307||{{decrease}}{{0}}0.1%||2029|||| |- |2010||9,054,001||{{increase}}{{0}}6.5%||2020||6,479,576||{{decrease}}{{0}}55.2%||2030|||| |- |2011||9,843,302||{{increase}}{{0}}8.7%||2021||11,307,392||{{increase}}{{0}}74.5%||2031|||| |}

===Top destinations=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align= |+ {{nowrap|'''Busiest domestic routes from HOU (January 2025 - December 2025)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=Ubh&Nv42146_anzr=U175610,%20gk:%20jvyyvnz%20c%20U1ooB&pn44vr4=SNPgf |title=RITA | BTS | Transtats |publisher=Transtats.bts.gov |access-date=March 31, 2026 }}</ref>}} ! Rank ! City ! Passengers ! Carriers |- |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love, Texas]] | 407,640 | Southwest, JSX |- |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, Georgia]] | 340,460 | Southwest, Delta |- |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]] | 311,300 | Southwest, Frontier |- |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]] | 284,970 | Southwest |- |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona]] | 271,090 | Southwest |- |align="center"| 6 | {{flagicon|Florida}} [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando, Florida]] | 265,650 | Southwest, Frontier |- |align="center"| 7 |{{flagicon|Illinois}} [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway, Illinois]] | 252,920 | Southwest |- |align="center"| 8 | {{flagicon|Tennessee}} [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville, Tennessee]] | 227,350 | Southwest |- |align="center"| 9 | {{flagicon|Louisiana}} [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans, Louisiana]] | 225,120 | Southwest |- |align="center"| 10 | {{flagicon|Maryland}} [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore, Maryland]] | 204,050 | Southwest |} {{Update table|date=March 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |+ '''International routes from HOU, by ridership (October 2021 – September 2022)'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=International_Report_Passengers {{!}} Department of Transportation – Data Portal|url=https://data.transportation.gov/Aviation/International_Report_Passengers/xgub-n9bw|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=data.transportation.gov}}</ref> ! Rank ! City ! Passengers ! Carriers |- |align="center"| 1 | {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún, Mexico]] |align="center"| 274,843 | Frontier, Southwest |- | align="center" | 2 | {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo, Mexico]] | align="center" | 173,092 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 3 | {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta, Mexico]] | align="center" | 92,421 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 4 | {{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José—Santamaría, Costa Rica]] | align="center" | 88,582 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 5 | {{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Guanacaste Airport|Liberia, Costa Rica]] | align="center" | 75,976 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 6 | {{Flagicon|Belize}} [[Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport|Belize City—Goldson, Belize]] | align="center" | 67,749 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 7 | {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Cozumel International Airport|Cozumel, Mexico]] | align="center" | 67,184 | Southwest |- | align="center" | 8 | {{Flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Sangster International Airport|Montego Bay, Jamaica]] | align="center" | 48,015 | Southwest |} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" |+ '''Largest Airlines at HOU (February 2023 – January 2024)'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=International_Report_Passengers {{!}} Department of Transportation – Data Portal|url=https://data.transportation.gov/Aviation/International_Report_Passengers/xgub-n9bw|access-date=September 16, 2023|website=data.transportation.gov}}</ref> |- !Rank !Airline !Passengers !Share |- |1 | [[Southwest Airlines]] |11,796,000 |93.30% |- |2 | [[Delta Air Lines]] |312,000 |2.47% |- |3 | [[Envoy Air]] |172,000 |1.36% |- |4 | [[Frontier Airlines]] |141,000 |1.11% |- |5 | [[Allegiant Air]] |131,000 |1.04% |- | | Other |89,970 |0.71% |- |}

==Accidents and incidents== * On January 18, 1988, a [[Hawker Siddeley]] [[British Aerospace 125#Variants|HS-125-600B]] crashed during an [[Instrument Landing System]] approach to runway 04, hitting powerlines {{convert|6500|ft|m|abbr=on}} short of the runway; one crewmember of the eight on board was killed.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19880118-0|title=XA-KUT|wikibase=no}}</ref> * On May 12, 2000, a private [[Beechcraft Baron|Beechcraft Baron 55]] headed to [[Galliano, Louisiana]], nosedived near the runways shortly after takeoff and subsequently burned. According to [[Houston Airport System|Houston Aviation Department]] spokesman Ernie DeSoto, the aircraft "apparently exploded on impact" and stalled at least twice. The plane climbed between 40 and 50 degrees rather than a safe 15 according to a pilot witness.<ref name=":LOZANO">{{Cite news |last=Lozano |first=Juan A. |date=May 13, 2000 |title=Six Killed in Plane Crash at Houston Hobby Airport |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-six-killed-in-plan/175268068/ |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=The Associated Press (via Abilene Reporter-News) |page=57}}</ref> The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] discovered that a gust-lock pin was inadvertently left in place, and it was also discovered by the [[Harris County Institute of Forensic Science|Harris County medical examiner's]] office that the pilot suffered a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=The Associated Press |date=May 18, 2000 |title=Pilot May Have Had Heart Attack |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/5e3685792f69d76f6209ae2d/pilot-may-have-had-heart-attack |work=News On 6 (Tulsa, Oklahoma)}}</ref> All six passengers on board the aircraft were killed.<ref name=":LOZANO" /> * On November 22, 2004, a [[Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream III]] crashed {{cvt|5|km}} west of Hobby, striking a light pole on approach and killing all three on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=20041122-0|title=N85VT|wikibase=no}}</ref> * On November 5, 2005, a [[Cessna 500 Citation I]] stalled and crashed after takeoff. Both occupants died.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=20051105-0|title=N505K|wikibase=no}}</ref> * On June 9, 2016, a [[Cirrus SR20]] stalled and crashed into a parking lot near the airport during a [[go-around]]. All three occupants died.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=188000|title=N4252G|wikibase=yes}}</ref> * On May 6, 2022, a [[Cessna 421|Cessna 421C Golden Eagle]], XB-FQS, lost power in both engines shortly after takeoff. The plane made a forced landing in a residential neighborhood near the airport, skidding across a school's athletic field and coming to rest in the backyards of nearby homes. None of the four aircraft occupants were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ahmed |date=2022-05-06 |title=Small airplane crashes near Hobby Airport, Dobie 9th Grade Center; no injuries reported |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/small-airplane-crashes-near-hobby-airport-dobie-9th-grade-center-no-injuries-reported |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=FOX 26 Houston |language=en-US}}</ref> * On October 24, 2023, a [[Hawker 850XP]] took off from runway 22 without permission from air traffic control, and its wing clipped the tail of a [[Cessna Citation Mustang]] that had landed on intersecting runway 13R. The Hawker circled back and landed safely at the airport with only minor damage. The Cessna sustained substantial damage. The five occupants on board the Cessna and the three on board the Hawker were not injured.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/ntsb-report-hobby-airport-plane-crash/285-5088688d-3424-4cc0-9075-ff0ff3781b5e | title=NTSB: Plane taking off without permission caused collision that shut down Houston airport for hours | date=November 8, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-airport-closed/285-9be37ea0-1c30-42f9-bb57-d8379e52deee | title='We just had a midair' | Air traffic control audio captures moments shortly after two planes collide at Hobby Airport | date=October 24, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/347213 | title=Runway incursion Accident Raytheon Hawker 850XP N269AA }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/ntsb-plane-collision-hobby-airport/285-2a088715-4d04-482c-8a3c-2402781c5190 | title=NTSB gives update on collision of private jets at Hobby Airport | date=October 25, 2023 }}</ref> * On May 3, 2024, an [[Embraer ERJ-145]] of [[JSX (airline)|JSX]], ''N942JX'', operating as Flight 284 from [[Dallas Love Field]], sustained a left main landing gear collapse during a low-speed rollout after a seemingly uneventful landing on runway 04. The airliner veered to the left side of the runway, dragging its left wing on the ground and sustaining substantial damage. One crew member sustained minor injuries; the other two crew and 21 passengers were not injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://avherald.com/h?article=518367ec |title=Accident: JSX E145 at Houston on May 3rd 2024, gear collapse and runway excursion on landing |last=Hradecky |first=Simon |work=The Aviation Herald |date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Texas|Aviation}} * [[List of airports in the United States]] * [[List of international airports by country]]

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|William P. Hobby Airport}} * {{Official website}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071003065119/http://www.fly2houston.com/hasVideo Houston Airport System — Houston Airports Today television show] * [https://www.1940airterminal.org/ The 1940 Air Terminal Museum at William P. Hobby Airport] * {{FAA-diagram|00198}}{{US-airport|HOU}} * Gonzalez, J. R. "[http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/05/1941_photos_show_scenes_at_houston_municipal_airpo_1.html 1941 photos show scenes at Houston Municipal Airport]". ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 10, 2010.

[[Category:1927 establishments in Texas]] [[Category:Airports established in 1927]] [[Category:Airports in Houston]] [[Category:Airports in Texas]] [[Category:Economy of Houston]] [[Category:Hobby family]] [[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Harris County, Texas]]