Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

Most passengers never see it. They hand over their suitcase, walk toward security and trust the rest will take care of itself.Behind the walls of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), however, that quiet handoff sets off a precisely choreographed journey—one that will soon run across steel, sensors, software and conveyor belts deep inside the airport’s newest international infrastructure.This is the baggage handling system, or BHS, and bringing it online is nothing short of an industrial ballet.Along North Terminal Road, crews spent months meticulously assembling a 157-foot-long steel bridge. The 85-ton structure is designed to carry luggage across a 1.5-mile network of conveyors that form the backbone of the new system.Once operational in early 2026, the new BHS will be capable of processing up to 2,400 bags per hour, serving both international and domestic flights, with a primary focus on international departures from the new International Central Processor at Terminal E.Step inside the space and the scale becomes immediately clear.Bright blue conveyor frames rise in clean, geometric lines, crisscrossed by yellow catwalks and guardrails that create a grid overhead. Thick bundles of cable snake above and below, feeding power and data to hundreds of sensors designed to monitor movement, prevent jams and track every bag as it moves through required screening before ultimately being routed and delivered to an aircraft.Before the system can carry a single passenger bag, it must be certified. That process includes rigorous testing of the machinery and how people, equipment and emergency response protocols function within the space.This week, the Houston Police Department Tactical Operations Division and the Transportation Security Administration conducted controlled walkthroughs inside the new Checked Baggage Inspection System building. These inspections are a standard and necessary step to ensure the facility supports routine screening operations, allows for safe navigation of specialized equipment and maintains clear lines of communication in all operational scenarios.Testing will continue in carefully sequenced phases, all aimed at one moment: flipping the switch.When the system comes online in 2026, most travelers will never notice it. Bags will simply move smoothly from the check-in counter at IAH to a baggage claim belt somewhere around the world.That is the goal. Because the most advanced systems at an airport are often the ones passengers never have to think about at all.

Travelers using METRO’s 500 IAH Downtown Direct now have an even clearer path between downtown Houston and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).The nonstop bus route’s pickup and drop-off location has moved to the International Departures curb at Terminal E, placing passengers steps from airline check-in and international departures. The update is designed to make the journey between IAH and the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston more intuitive.The 500 IAH Downtown Direct launched in April as a fast, affordable connection between Downtown Houston and the airport, operating seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Buses run every 30 minutes and offer a flat $4.50 one-way fare between IAH and the GRB.The new Terminal E curbside location reflects a broader effort by Houston Airports and METRO to remove friction from the passenger journey and align ground transportation with how travelers actually move through the airport.The route complements METRO’s existing 102 Bush IAH Express, which continues to make stops at IAH Terminal C while giving downtown-bound riders a nonstop option. From the GRB, passengers can easily connect to METRORail’s Green and Purple lines or use METRO’s Community Connector micro-transit service through the Ride Circuit app at no additional charge.As Houston prepares to welcome the world for major conventions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the updated pickup and drop-off location underscores a shared focus on accessibility, affordability and Houston-friendly hospitality.Plan ahead: Travelers are encouraged to look for METRO 500 signage along the IAH Terminal E International Departures curb and allow time for curbside activity during peak travel periods. For schedules and service details, visit Fly2Houston.com or RideMETRO.org.

Travel days are usually about moving fast. Gates. Connections. Arrival boards. But at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston Airports is inviting travelers to slow down, if only for a quick match.New foosball tables, wrapped in Houston Airports FIFA World Cup–inspired branding, are now available for passengers. - At Bush Airport, travelers can find them near Gates D15 and D1 and in the Terminal E Arrivals Hall.- At Hobby Airport, a foosball table is set up in the Central Concourse, just behind the Information Booth.The tables are free to use and add a moment of play as Houston builds momentum toward hosting the world’s largest sporting event in 2026.The look is intentional. The same bold colors and fútbol-themed visuals seen throughout the terminals now wrap the tables, reinforcing a simple message: wherever fútbol happens, it’s nonstop from Houston.Travelers are accepting the invitation. Some pause between flights. Others stumble upon the tables by chance. Either way, hands find the rods, strangers become competitors, and the rhythm of airport travel briefly shifts.The foosball tables are part of a broader effort to make IAH and HOU more welcoming and more reflective of the city they serve. As Houston prepares for an influx of soccer fans, the goooooooooooal is simple: give travelers a reason to smile before the next boarding call.PLAN YOUR TRIP | Houston Airports connects fans to every 2026 tournament host city