Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

Official FIFA World Cup 26 merchandise has arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), giving travelers an early glimpse of the global celebration already taking shape in Houston.Shirts and hoodies featuring the tri-nation logo—CAN MEX USA—ar now on sale at Houston’s airports. This marks the first phase of a retail rollout designed to build excitement as Houston prepares to host seven World Cup matches in 2026.The gear, produced in partnership with Adidas and FIFA, features bold designs and multilingual nods to the world’s most popular sport—football, soccer, fútbol. The limited-edition items serve as a preview of what’s to come, from expanded retail offerings to terminal-wide activations.RELATED | Houston Airports launches marketing campaign for soccer fansThe new merchandise follows the August launch of a bold marketing campaign by Houston Airports designed for soccer fans traveling through the gateway to the planet’s biggest sporting event. Window clings and posters inside IAH Terminals A and D feature vibrant, soccer-inspired artwork with the message: “Wherever fútbol happens, it’s nonstop from Houston.” Each display includes a QR code linking travelers to Fly2Houston.com, where an interactive map highlights nonstop flight options from Houston to every tournament host city.Houston is among the few tournament host cities with nonstop flights to all others—most within a three-hour journey—positioning Houston as the hub for 2026 tournament travel.Houston Airports is preparing for tens of thousands of visitors by completing major infrastructure upgrades ahead of the tournament. These include the new Terminal D-West Pier, a modernized Terminal E ticketing lobby, expanded TSA checkpoints and expedited international processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.Houston Airports is coordinating with METRO Houston and private transportation partners will ensure smooth travel for visitors moving between airports, hotels and stadiums. The city will learn which national teams it will host when FIFA announces match assignments on December 5. Until then, the official merchandise serves as both a souvenir and a signal—Houston is ready to welcome the world, and the journey begins the moment fans land at the airport.

Every October 15, White Cane Day recognizes the independence and achievements of people who are blind or have low vision. The white cane represents both freedom and safety—a tool that enables navigation and a symbol that calls for greater public awareness and inclusion.At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston Airports works every day to ensure that passengers who are blind or have low vision can travel confidently and independently. A series of assistive technologies and programs are in place across both airports to provide meaningful support from curb to gate.AIRA assistanceThrough a partnership with AIRA, travelers who are blind or have low vision can access immediate video navigation assistance directly from their cell phones. AIRA connects users to trained agents who help them navigate the terminal environment in real time. The service is provided at no cost within all terminals at IAH and HOU.Accessible websitesHouston Airports’ websites feature two assistive technologies—ReciteMe and AccessiBe—that make digital navigation accessible and intuitive.• ReciteMe enables screen reading, page summarization, magnification, and dictionary tools. It also provides a screen mask for focus and closed-caption reading for videos.• AccessiBe ensures that all web content meets color and contrast standards for low-vision users and includes audio descriptions for images and videos. Its Vision Impaired and Blind User Profiles offer customized adjustments for individuals with tunnel vision, glaucoma, cataracts, or degraded eyesight.TTY and service supportTTY phone assistance is available for travelers at both airports through the Airport Operations Center. Blind or low-vision passengers can request help at any information desk or from roving customer service representatives wearing orange shirts.Service animal relief areas are located in every terminal to support passengers traveling with guide dogs or other service animals. Houston Airports also offers airport familiarization tours for blind and low-vision passengers—an opportunity to experience terminal layouts and amenities before the day of travel.Identification and trainingAs part of Houston Airports’ Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Program, passengers who are blind or have low vision can choose to wear a sunflower lanyard. The lanyard signals to airport staff that the traveler may need additional time or assistance.White Cane Day reminds us that accessibility is not a feature, it’s a standard. Houston Airports remains committed to building an inclusive, world-class travel experience for every passenger.

At Houston’s airports, kindness travels faster than any flight. It moves through restrooms and roadways, across ticket counters and terminal floors. It’s a kindness rooted in Houston-friendly hospitality, the kind passengers remember long after they leave the terminal.In September, 25 passengers took time to write in, not to complain, but to say thank you. They thanked the people who helped them feel seen in the middle of a busy travel day.One traveler wrote about Etta, who maintains the restroom at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) with the efficiency of an air traffic controller and the warmth of an old friend. “Etta was amazing, blessing everyone with a kind word and bright smile,” she said. Another passenger wrote, “Miss Etta always gets us in and out of the restroom with a smile.”They wrote about Leon at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Leon is part of the Terminal Operations team that keeps curbs clear, traffic steady and patience intact. “Leon went out of his way to help me find my phone,” one note read. “He was so patient with the Uber drivers and helped everyone get where they needed to go.”And they wrote about Susie, a Customer Service professional at Hobby. “I would like to thank and commend Ms. Susie. She was so helpful and kind, a true professional who represents Houston well.”Together, these stories form a portrait of something rare in modern travel: genuine connection.To most people, these moments are small. To the people who run Houston Airports, they’re everything. As the City of Houston’s Department of Aviation, Houston Airports employs more than 1,200 city workers who keep one of the nation’s busiest airport systems moving while delivering best-in-class service. Custodial teams, often called the “frontline,” maintain terminals that rank among the cleanest in North America. Terminal Operations manages the controlled chaos that happens before a passenger even steps through a door. And Customer Service Representatives — those steady voices at the gates and checkpoints — turn confusion into calm.One traveler said it best: “Tembo didn’t just point me in the right direction; he walked with me.”That spirit of going farther than required is what defines Houston’s airport culture. “Every compliment we receive is a reflection of who we are,” said Kelly Woodward, chief operating officer of Houston Airports. “It means our people are living our values. They’re choosing kindness, patience and respect even in the busiest moments. Delivering Houston-friendly hospitality is more than a tagline; it’s a promise to treat every traveler like a guest in our city.”In September alone, passengers submitted 13 compliments for employees at HOU and 12 compliments for employees at IAH. The words that came up again and again were thank, kind, helpful, positive and great. Many of the compliments focused on lost-and-found recoveries, traffic assistance and restroom cleanliness — the quiet details that make the difference between travel and experience.“We always talk about big projects: terminals, infrastructure, billion-dollar investments,” Woodward said. “But what makes those projects matter is the human connection happening inside them. The fact that passengers take time to tell us ‘thank you’ proves that people make the ultimate difference.”As the summer travel season gave way to fall, those compliments felt like a pause; a reminder that progress isn’t just measured in expansion and efficiency. It’s found in the way people treat one another.And at Houston Airports, how we make people feel matters.Share Your Experience at Bush Airport With UsShare Your Experience at Hobby Airport With Us