Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

There are moments when the eyes of the world turn to one city. Today, they turned to Houston—and to the heart of its newest international terminal.On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, exactly one year before the opening whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Houston Airports flipped the switch on a massive digital countdown clock at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-Oy-eqj_U)Positioned inside Terminal D-West, the city's new, state-of-the-art international concourse, the clock now ticks down the final 365 days to the most-watched sporting event on the planet.It was a moment meant to move people, literally and figuratively.At precisely 10 a.m., passengers gathered near the Harmony in the Air stage. The area pulsed with live music. Therapy dogs wove between travelers, and airport staff led a spontaneous dance party. Texas Tim, the airport’s unofficial cowboy-in-chief, greeted passengers with his signature caricature drawings, this time in soccer jerseys. When the final seconds were announced, a countdown led by Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak echoed through the concourse, and the future lit up.“This terminal is where the world connects,” said Szczesniak. “What better place to celebrate the global spirit of soccer than the very spot where international passengers arrive and depart? It’s symbolic, it’s strategic and it’s very Houston.”While FIFA has a history of placing countdown clocks in public landmarks, Houston chose to install its clock inside an airport... and not just any terminal. Terminal D-West was purpose-built to welcome the world: an international gateway with modern amenities, expansive light-filled spaces and proximity to the freshly expanded Terminal E.“There’s no better place to feel the momentum of the world’s biggest sporting event than right here,” said Andrew Czobor, assistant director of guest experience at IAH. “We’re not just moving people. We’re building excitement, starting at our international gates.”For many travelers, this was no ordinary airport visit. Children danced to music, families snapped selfies with the countdown clock, and passengers paused long enough to watch a moment of history unfold.“We’re curating an experience for travelers that reflects Houston’s dynamic, creative energy,” said Alton DuLaney, chief curator of cultural affairs for the City of Houston. “Art, music, culture—and now this incredible countdown moment. It’s a fusion of civic pride and global anticipation.”Houston is already positioning itself as the ultimate hub for the tournament. In May, Houston Airports launched a first-of-its-kind interactive destination map on Fly2Houston.com. With just a tap, travelers can filter nonstop flights to all 16 host cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, directly from IAH and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk6FenxV7rw)The infrastructure is in place. The world is watching. And the countdown, officially, has begun.The digital clock may be mechanical, but its symbolism is unmistakable. It beats inside a terminal that greets the globe, reminding every passenger who passes by that Houston isn’t just part of the journey, it’s where the journey begins.Visit www.fly2houston.com to explore nonstop destinations and plan your 2026 experience.

Houston Airports is enhancing its ground transportation system this summer with new shuttles, smarter scheduling and infrastructure upgrades designed to make getting to and from the terminal faster, cleaner and more comfortable.A $7 million investment has brought 36 new shuttles to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), replacing the aging fleet that serves the original ecopark lot off JFK Boulevard. The upgraded vehicles are quieter, more spacious and better equipped to handle rising passenger volumes.Shuttle service to the IAH Rental Car Center is also being optimized. Houston Airports is increasing the number of active shuttles from 15 to 18 during peak hours, including evenings and weekends, to cut down on wait times and better match passenger demand.“We’re focused on making every part of the journey more seamless—from where travelers park to when they enter the terminal,” said Walt Gray, director of parking and ground transportation for Houston Airports. “These upgrades help us deliver on our promise of a world-class airport experience.”The improvements extend beyond vehicles. Houston Airports is power washing the arrival and departure curbs. Passengers will also notice new covered canopies for charter buses and rental car shuttles at pickup points, which provide welcome shade from Houston’s summer heat and shelter from sudden storms.These upgrades support the airport system’s long-term modernization efforts and align with its 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.

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)