Houston Airports closes 2025 with strong international growth, record cargo performance

Global connectivity expands as Houston prepares to welcome the world.

Mar 2, 2026

Houston didn’t just move people and goods in 2025. It strengthened its position in the global economy.

With 2025 travel data now finalized, Houston Airports confirms 2025 as a year of international momentum, record-setting cargo performance and deliberate preparation for a summer when the world will arrive on Houston’s doorstep.

Across George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston Airports served 62 million passengers in 2025, reinforcing the region’s role as one of North America’s most connected global gateways.

International passenger traffic at Bush Airport reached record levels, with 12.4 million passengers, a 2.5% increase compared to 2024. Growth was driven by sustained international demand and an expanding route map that continues to connect Houston to key markets across Asia, Latin America, Canada and Europe.

New and expanded service in 2025 included routes from ZIPAIR, Volaris, United Airlines, VivaAerobus, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines. Together, those additions strengthened nonstop access to cities such as Tokyo, Monterrey, Edmonton, Gulf Shores, Wilmington, Portland, and New York–JFK, while deepening Houston’s ties across Mexico and Central America.

That connectivity takes on added significance as Houston prepares to host the FIFA World Cup this summer. As one of 16 host cities across North America, Houston has aligned its air service strategy to support increased international travel, major global events and the economic activity that follows.

Houston’s airports are economic drivers, connecting our region to global markets, supporting jobs across the economy and helping to keep Houston competitive on the world stage.

Cargo operations were the clearest signal of that economic strength.

Houston Airports handled 562,809 metric tons of air cargo, a 1.9% increase year over year and the highest total in the airport system’s history, surpassing the previous record set in 2022. December 2025 closed as the second-busiest cargo month ever, with 51,416 metric tons handled across IAH and HOU.

Bush Airport processed 552,588 metric tons of cargo, fueled by strong international volumes from Europe—particularly the United Kingdom and Germany—as continued growth from Taiwan, Chile, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey and Malaysia. Long known as a hub for energy and industrial cargo, IAH has emerged as a critical distribution point for electronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing supply chains.

That momentum continued with the arrival of Cargolux Italia, which launched a weekly Boeing 747 freighter operation connecting Taipei, Anchorage, Houston, Milan and Luxembourg.

Aircraft activity also climbed in 2025. Total landings at IAH and HOU reached 282,211, a 1.4% increase from the prior year, reflecting steady demand from passengers and cargo operations.

As Houston Airports advances major capital projects and prepares for continued international growth—including new nonstop service to Rome in 2026—passengers are encouraged to plan ahead by using real-time tools, parking reservations and travel resources available at Fly2Houston.com.