Welcome toWilliam P. Hobby Airport

Houston is wide open this summer. With record passenger demand and an expanding menu of nonstop routes, travelers departing George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) have more options than ever, whether they’re chasing mountains, music or mezcal.Next year, the world will be coming to Houston. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will transform Houston into one of soccer’s global epicenters. Hotels will fill, flights will be booked and soccer fever will take over, making now the perfect time for Houstonians to explore other destinations before the world arrives at their front door.Beyond the usual: Belize City & San Pedro SulaFor travelers looking to break out of the Cancun-and-Cabo routine, Belize City (BZE) and San Pedro Sula (SAP) offer a lesser-known path into Central America’s culture, beaches and biodiversity. United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines serve these routes directly from Houston.Europe in the sun: Amsterdam, Frankfurt & MunichThere’s a sweet spot in European summer travel before the peak crowds arrive. KLM, Lufthansa and United offer nonstop access to Amsterdam (AMS), Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC), connecting Houston to history, festivals and long daylight hours.The Canadian window: Banff season is shortCalgary (YYC) is the entry point to Banff National Park’s postcard-perfect scenery, but travelers have until late September before winter returns. United’s new service to Edmonton (YEG) offers even more ways to explore Alberta.Mexican markets expandVolaris is growing its footprint out of Houston with new options to Morelia (MLM) and San Luis Potosi (SLP), joining United Airlines’ established service. These central Mexico cities offer rich cultural experiences and expanding business ties.Closer to home, plenty of optionsFor domestic travelers, nonstop flights to Miami (MIA), Tampa (TPA), Pensacola (PNS), Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA) remain popular for sun, sand and seafood. San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) continues to draw travelers seeking Spanish-Caribbean culture without leaving U.S. borders.And yes, there are two PortlandsPortland, Maine (PWM) and Portland, Oregon (PDX) are both on the summer schedule, though only one sits near Seattle. Either way, travelers can pick their coast.Music, beaches and a little Southern charmAllegiant’s seasonal service to Gulf Shores, Alabama (GUF) and Southwest’s nonstop to Nashville (BNA) offer easy getaways for beachgoers and country music fans.The bottom line, with the world preparing to turn its attention to Houston in 2026, this summer gives locals the perfect window to explore new destinations before the global spotlight arrives.

In a bold blend of fashion, sustainability and aviation, Houston Airports hosted an exclusive reception Monday, June 16, to celebrate the Runway R&R exhibit at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), where retired aircraft seats have found stunning second lives as high-fashion designs.The exhibit is a collaboration between Southwest Airlines, Houston-based nonprofit Magpies & Peacocks and Houston Airports. On display in Hobby’s main concourse, Runway R&R features seven original fashion pieces crafted entirely from retired Southwest Airlines leather seats, highlighting the power of creative reuse and circular design.During Monday’s event, key leaders behind the partnership gathered to discuss the exhibit’s creation and larger sustainability efforts. Sarah-Jayne Smith, president of Magpies & Peacocks, joined vice president Ahshia Berry, Southwest Airlines Senior Corporate Responsibility Regional Manager Ana Schwager, and City of Houston Chief Curator of Cultural Affairs Alton DuLaney for a conversation with invited guests.“This project demonstrates how innovation can fuel sustainability, transform waste into art and create real social impact,” said DuLaney.The exhibit marks the 10th anniversary of Southwest Airlines’ Repurpose with Purpose program, which launched after the airline retired 43 acres of aircraft seat leather as part of a fleet refresh. Since 2014, Southwest has donated over $2 million in grants and repurposed 1.4 million pounds of leather, supporting employment, skills training and workforce development across multiple communities.Magpies & Peacocks, the nation’s only nonprofit design house dedicated to disrupting textile waste, led the design work. Through its MAKR Collective initiative, the nonprofit trains and employs trauma survivors, including those who have experienced human trafficking, domestic violence and those who are military veterans or are overcoming housing insecurity.“Hobby Airport’s passengers now have a front-row seat to see how aviation waste can become wearable art,” said DuLaney. “Public art at Houston Airports continues to surprise, inspire, and reflect the creativity of our city.”The Runway R&R exhibit will remain on display in Hobby Airport's main concourse and ticketing lobby through October 2025.

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)