Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

Before a guide dog ever boards a commercial flight with a passenger who is blind, it must learn to navigate one of the most complex environments in modern travel: the airport.On a Saturday in February, Houston Airports hosted an airport familiarization training tour at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for the Houston chapter of Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). The purpose was straightforward: to expose puppies in training and their handlers to the real conditions they will encounter on travel day.That meant more than walking a quiet corridor.The group rode IAH shuttle buses, processed through a TSA security checkpoint, traveled on the Skyway and visited Service Animal Relief Areas (SARA). Puppies rode ecopark shuttle buses and practiced boarding and exiting alongside passengers. They processed through a TSA checkpoint. They moved through ticketing counters at American Airlines while trainers reviewed required federal service animal documentation and airline procedures. They traveled the Skyway between terminals and visited multiple Service Animal Relief Areas, including the new outdoor SARA at Terminal E.Airports are layered environments — moving walkways, shuttle buses, security lanes, loudspeaker announcements and unpredictable crowds. Controlled exposure builds confidence and focus before a dog is paired with a person who depends on it for mobility and independence.The training is also instructive for the airport.Guide dog trainers gain insight into airport operations. Airport teams gain perspective on how checkpoint procedures, signage, ground transportation and terminal design affect travelers who rely on service animals.“Familiarization tours like this give us real-time feedback,” said Anthony Brown, ADA coordinator for Houston Airports. “We’re able to observe how service animals respond to the airport environment and identify opportunities to improve the experience for travelers with disabilities. That collaboration strengthens our ADA program and makes us better prepared on travel day.”From curb to gate, the effort reflects a broader operational priority: accessibility at scale.As the largest guide dog school in North America, Guide Dogs for the Blind has graduated more than 16,000 guide dog teams across the U.S. and Canada since 1942. All services are provided free of charge, including personalized training and ongoing support, funded entirely through donors and volunteers.

On any given day at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), a traveler’s first conversation in Houston happens before baggage claim with a smiling airport volunteer in a bright orange polo.On March 3, that exchange carries more weight. The date marks 100 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11. For Houston Airports, the countdown is logistical.More than 70 Volunteer Ambassadors who serve at IAH and HOU just completed the Houston First Corporation’s Houston Insider training in downtown Houston. Inside a conference room overlooking Discovery Green, volunteers walked through tournament schedules, transportation routes, cultural districts and the kinds of questions international visitors are likely to ask between matches.- How do I get to NRG Stadium from the airport?- What neighborhood should I explore before tomorrow’s game?- Is there a train downtown? The objective is straightforward: ensure ambassadors can answer more than “Where is baggage claim?”“We know our volunteers are often the first friendly face a visitor sees when they step off a plane,” said Ella Ghica, program manager of volunteer programs for Houston Airports. “By participating in Houston Insider training, they are not just offering directions to a gate. They are sharing the story of Houston. As we prepare to welcome the world for the World Cup, we want every ambassador to feel confident answering questions about our city’s culture, neighborhoods and signature experiences.”The training is one layer of a broader airport strategy tied directly to tournament traffic.Houston will host seven matches, compressing arrival and departure windows as fans fly in for a game and depart within 24 to 48 hours. Houston Airports is coordinating with regional transportation partners, reviewing curbside circulation plans and adjusting staffing to manage concentrated passenger banks tied to match schedules. Recent infrastructure investments were built for moments like this.At IAH, the Terminal D-West Concourse expanded international gate capacity and introduced upgraded seating, lighting and passenger amenities built for high-volume global travel. The new Terminal E Ticketing Lobby and Arrivals Hall improved circulation from curb to check-in, separating ticketing and international arrivals functions to reduce bottlenecks. At HOU, phased restroom renovations, enhanced wayfinding and terminal flow improvements strengthen its ability to handle peak demand without sacrificing service standards.Technology upgrades are also part of the preparation. Expanded Wi-Fi capability, interactive kiosks that mirror the Fly2Houston.com experience and an improved parking reservation system are designed to move passengers efficiently from curb to gate. Multilingual customer service support has been reinforced across terminals to accommodate a diverse international audience.Andrew Czobor, director of customer experience programs for Houston Airports, said volunteer training aligns with that operational groundwork.“The World Cup is not just a sporting event. It is a global stage,” Czobor said. “We are preparing our facilities, our signage, our technology and our people. Our Volunteer Ambassadors play a critical role in delivering Houston-friendly hospitality in a world-class, organized and functional environment. This training ensures they can confidently connect passengers to everything our city has to offer.”For passengers, the difference may feel subtle: clearer signage, smoother curbside flow, a volunteer who can explain METRO connections or recommend a museum before kickoff.For Houston Airports, it reflects its core purpose — to connect the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston. In less than 100 days, the matches begin. Houston Airports is ready to welcome the world.

Houston didn’t just move people and goods in 2025. It strengthened its position in the global economy.With 2025 travel data now finalized, Houston Airports confirms 2025 as a year of international momentum, record-setting cargo performance and deliberate preparation for a summer when the world will arrive on Houston’s doorstep.Across George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston Airports served 62 million passengers in 2025, reinforcing the region’s role as one of North America’s most connected global gateways. International passenger traffic at Bush Airport reached record levels, with 12.4 million passengers, a 2.5% increase compared to 2024. Growth was driven by sustained international demand and an expanding route map that continues to connect Houston to key markets across Asia, Latin America, Canada and Europe.New and expanded service in 2025 included routes from ZIPAIR, Volaris, United Airlines, VivaAerobus, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines. Together, those additions strengthened nonstop access to cities such as Tokyo, Monterrey, Edmonton, Gulf Shores, Wilmington, Portland, and New York–JFK, while deepening Houston’s ties across Mexico and Central America.That connectivity takes on added significance as Houston prepares to host the FIFA World Cup this summer. As one of 16 host cities across North America, Houston has aligned its air service strategy to support increased international travel, major global events and the economic activity that follows.Houston’s airports are economic drivers, connecting our region to global markets, supporting jobs across the economy and helping to keep Houston competitive on the world stage.Cargo operations were the clearest signal of that economic strength.Houston Airports handled 562,809 metric tons of air cargo, a 1.9% increase year over year and the highest total in the airport system’s history, surpassing the previous record set in 2022. December 2025 closed as the second-busiest cargo month ever, with 51,416 metric tons handled across IAH and HOU.Bush Airport processed 552,588 metric tons of cargo, fueled by strong international volumes from Europe—particularly the United Kingdom and Germany—as continued growth from Taiwan, Chile, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey and Malaysia. Long known as a hub for energy and industrial cargo, IAH has emerged as a critical distribution point for electronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing supply chains.That momentum continued with the arrival of Cargolux Italia, which launched a weekly Boeing 747 freighter operation connecting Taipei, Anchorage, Houston, Milan and Luxembourg. Aircraft activity also climbed in 2025. Total landings at IAH and HOU reached 282,211, a 1.4% increase from the prior year, reflecting steady demand from passengers and cargo operations.As Houston Airports advances major capital projects and prepares for continued international growth—including new nonstop service to Rome in 2026—passengers are encouraged to plan ahead by using real-time tools, parking reservations and travel resources available at Fly2Houston.com.