Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

They’re not pilots. They’re not air traffic controllers. You won’t find them greeting passengers at the gate or tagging bags at the counter. But without warehouse team members like Dexter Howard and Reggie Curry, Houston’s award-winning airports would stall.From a quiet warehouse tucked away from the rush of terminals and taxiways, these two men help to manage the lifeblood of daily operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). Every paper towel. Every toilet paper roll. Every bolt, part, and supply needed to keep the infrastructure humming passes through their hands.“We’re the guys behind the scenes,” said Dexter Howard, warehouse division manager for Houston Airports. “They never see us—or if they do, they don’t know what impact we have. But in actuality, the majority of what we put out the door is paper products. Imagine 60 million people getting off planes and needing to use our restrooms. You're going to go through quite a bit of toilet paper.”In 2023 alone, the Houston Airports Warehouse Division pushed out 250,000 jumbo rolls of toilet paper. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential.And that’s the point.“Our job is to ensure passengers have what they need to get from point A to point B,” Howard said. “We’re excited that Houston Airports is part of millions of travel experiences. Our job is to ensure that it is one of the best airport experiences passengers will ever have.”At Houston Airports, customer service is measured not just in smiles, but in supply chains. The Warehouse Division is the invisible engine behind the 4-Star Skytrax rating at Bush Airport and the 5-Star Skytrax rating at Hobby. It’s also a cornerstone of the organization’s vision: to establish the Houston Airport System as a premier 5-star global air service gateway, a source of pride for Houstonians and the actively preferred choice for connecting passengers.Reggie Curry, warehouse superintendent for Houston Airports, puts it plainly: “Without this product, our customers can’t do what they do on a regular basis. We can’t properly service our team members on a daily basis. This is very vital to keeping our presentation standards high, to keeping that Skytrax rating. Without these vital products that we use on a regular basis, we wouldn't be able to keep our expectations and keep our customers happy.”Every shipment that arrives and every item that leaves is mapped with intention. And every day presents a new challenge.“The best part about this job is that every day is a new day,” Curry said. “Even though the day is planned and you may plan for different scenarios, we may need to help with something totally different that we didn't plan for. But guess what? At the end of the day, it's all for the greater good.”They may not wear wings, but make no mistake, Dexter Howard and Reggie Curry help the airport fly.Watch Episode 2 of Airport Insider on YouTube and see how the Houston Airports Warehouse Division keeps this global gateway stocked, supplied and soaring.[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx9c7a99InY)

In a move to modernize one of the most essential parts of the travel experience, Houston Airports is investing $30 million to upgrade restrooms at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).On May 28, Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak briefed the Houston City Council’s Economic Development Committee on a sweeping $30 million project to renovate more than 40 restrooms at Bush and Hobby airports. The initiative, backed by $10 million in federal infrastructure grants, directly answers Mayor John Whitmire’s call to improve the travel experience for millions of passengers moving through the city’s airports annually.“This is about dignity, cleanliness and delivering on our promise to be a premier 5-star global air service gateway,” Szczesniak told council members. “When a traveler walks into a Houston airport restroom, we want them to feel the difference—that they’re in a world-class city that takes pride in every detail.”The project, already underway, opened its latest newly upgraded restrooms near Gates 24–27 at Hobby Airport earlier this year. At Bush Airport, renovations are advancing in Terminals A and D and the international arrivals corridor, with the project’s completion projected in 2027.In October 2024, Houston City Council appropriated $10 million for IAH Terminal A Restrooms, and then in November 2024, Council appropriated $4.5 million for the Terminal D Restrooms. United Airlines is also meeting the moment. As part of its $2.55 billion Terminal B Transformation, United has committed to upgrading restrooms in Terminal B as part of the $2.6 billion IAH Terminal B Transformation. The airline is also finalizing project details to start updating restrooms in Terminals C and E in December 2025. The renovations will align with the airport system’s design standards, prioritizing accessibility, sustainability and a consistently high-quality experience across all terminals.The modernized restrooms feature:- Full-height stalls large enough to fit a carry-on suitcase.- Occupancy sensors and smart dispensers that notify custodians in real time of impending supply shortages.- ADA enhancements, backlit mirrors and energy-efficient lighting.- Thoughtfully placed custodial closets to speed up response times.Passenger response has been swift and positive. In the first quarter of 2025, more than 5 million passengers used restrooms at IAH and another 3 million at HOU. Feedback tablets at restroom exits show a 93% satisfaction rate at Bush and 95% at Hobby.The timeline ahead:- IAH Terminal A: 26 restrooms, including family and companion care rooms, by Q2 2027- IAH Terminal D and International Arrivals Corridor: 9 restrooms total by Q3 2026- HOU: Departures and ticketing restrooms completed in Phases 2 and 3 by Q3 2026“This is how we deliver a better passenger experience—from curb to gate,” Szczesniak said. “It’s not just construction. It’s a recommitment to our vision: to be a source of pride for Houstonians and the actively preferred choice for connecting passengers.”The renovations are part of a broader strategy to align legacy infrastructure with the sleek, modern design of the new IAH international terminal—an effort that signals Houston’s intent to lead in global aviation, one upgrade at a time.LEARN MORE | $30 million makeover: Major restroom upgrades coming to Houston's airports

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is a global gateway, welcoming travelers from every corner of the world. But for Janna Altmann, executive director of HeartGift Houston, it’s more than just an international terminal—it’s where hope arrives.HeartGift provides free, lifesaving heart surgeries to children from around the world who are born with congenital heart defects. Many live in countries where access to specialized cardiac care is impossible. A single surgery can mean the difference between life and death. Since 2000, the nonprofit has helped heal more than 1,600 hearts across 10 countries.When a young patient from Ethiopia landed at IAH earlier this spring, Altmann and her team waited anxiously at Terminal E International Arrivals. That’s where she encountered Sherrill-Ann Clarke, a Houston Airports customer service representative who offered not only assistance, but empathy.“Sherrill-Ann D. Clarke was so kind and helpful as we anxiously waited for a HeartGift patient to arrive from Ethiopia,” Altmann later wrote in an online message to Houston Airports. “She made such a difference.”The interaction reflects the kind of Houston friendly hospitality that defines the passenger experience at Houston Airports—where Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence (RISE) guide every interaction.Weeks later, Altmann returned to Terminal E—this time to send another HeartGift patient home. In a rush to the airport, she forgot the child’s passports. She called Douglas Ramirez, customer service supervisor, in a panic.“I did not know what else to do,” she wrote. “Thankfully, Eyman and his caregiver made their flight and are happy to be home in Ethiopia! I truly appreciate your calming presence.”"We always appreciate hearing about wonderful experiences our passengers, such as yourself, have with our exemplary employees," replied Ramirez in an email to Altmann. “The new Terminal E isn’t just about glass walls and fresh finishes—it’s a space built for the future of air travel, and that includes compassion,” said Andrew Czobor, assistant director of IAH customer sesrvice for Houston Airports. “Our goal is to ensure every passenger, from first-time flyers to global humanitarian missions, feels seen and supported.”Terminal E’s modernized TSA checkpoint, streamlined wayfinding and new art installations opened earlier this year as part of a multi-billion dollar transformation of IAH. But for passengers like Altmann, it’s the people inside that leave a lasting impression.Located just minutes from the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, IAH plays a vital role in connecting patients and caregivers to Houston’s globally renowned hospitals and humanitarian organizations. After all, the magic of flying isn’t only about where you’re going. Sometimes, it’s about who helps you get there.READ MORE | The midnight crew that keeps Houston’s airports movingREAD MORE | 'Wings for All' offers simulated flight, real confidence