Houston Airports ready for 3.4 million winter holiday travelers
Dec 17, 2025
HOUSTON — Houston Airports is ready to welcome nearly 3.4 million passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) during the winter holiday travel period from Dec. 18 through Jan. 5 — one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
2025 Winter Holiday Projections
- IAH: Nearly 2.6 million passengers
- HOU: 775,000 passengers
Peak Travel Days
- Busiest departures: Dec. 18–23 and then Dec. 26–29
- Busiest arrivals: Jan. 3–5
- Best days for fewer crowds: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
Houston Airports has prepared for the surge by:
- Improving traffic flow at IAH
- Updating the online parking reservation system
- Adding new concessions
- Expanding Wi-Fi and cell service for rideshare customers
- Supporting new tech for expedited TSA, CBP processing
The holiday crowds arrive as Houston expands its international reach. Three new nonstop flights by Frontier Airlines to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras begin this weekend, strengthening Houston’s connectivity ahead of the World Cup. Free foosball tables are now available at IAH and HOU as excitement for 2026 builds.
Travel Tips Reserve parking online at Fly2Houston.com/parking at least 12 hours in advance to guarantee a space. Picking someone up? Use cell phone lots to avoid circling the curb.
Contact us
Houston Airports Communications Office