Houston’s Airports shined once again at the 2020 Skytrax World Airport Awards by earning a long list of honors in various categories including World’s Top 100 Airports, Best Airport Dining, Best Airport Staff, and World’s Best Website and Digital Services. Houston remains the only city in the Western Hemisphere to have two four-star Skytrax rated airports.  

The top honors went to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), which received the highest ranking among U.S. airports in the World’s Top 100 Airports category and placed as second-best airport in North America. IAH climbed seven spots in rank to No. 31 among the top world airports, up from No. 38 in 2019. IAH also ranked fourth in the World’s Best Airport Dining Experience category and finished sixth in the rankings for Best Airport Staff in North America. 

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) received noteworthy accolades as well, finishing at third among Best Regional Airports in North America. HOU ranked sixth for best airports with 10-20 million passengers. Globally, HOU finished at No. 67, up from No. 85 in 2019. 

Houston Airports’ website, Fly2houston.com, and digital services were named World’s Best – for the second year in a row. 

“We are deeply honored by these achievements,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. “We don’t just talk about our commitment to providing a world-class customer experience, we act on it every single day. This year especially, I want to dedicate our awards to the men and women who work tirelessly every day to keep our airports functional during this COVID-19 pandemic. I am so proud of Houston Airports’ staff for maintaining such high standards.” 

This was the fifth year in a row that HOU received a four-star rating and the third straight year IAH received the same distinction from Skytrax, a leading global air transport rating organization. 

“George Bush Intercontinental Airport is known globally for providing superb customer experience, and William P. Hobby Airport is a first-class operation,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “Our Houston Airports employees always put passengers first, and that philosophy reaps tremendous benefits for Houston and the surrounding region. I am immensely proud of what our airports accomplish year-round and especially during this challenging time.” 

In the scorecard for Bush Airport, improvements from 2019 include: 

An increased cumulative score of 4.20 for transportation 

An increased cumulative score of 4.02 for information counters 

An increased cumulative score of 4.08 for leisure facilities 

An increased cumulative score of 4.67 for the free WiFi available at the airport 

An increased cumulative score of 4.60 for vehicle parking 

An increased cumulative score of 4.11 for food and beverage options and pricing 

In the scorecard for Hobby Airport, improvements from 2019 include: 

An increased cumulative score of 4.87 for vehicle parking 

An increased cumulative score of 4.75 for ease of check-in facilities 

An increased cumulative score of 4.57 for signage aiding and processing of international travelers 

An increased cumulative score of 4.36 for terminal cleanliness 

An increased cumulative score of 4.00 for prayer rooms 

An increased cumulative score of 4.50 for transit 

The Skytrax awards were announced as challenges mount at airports across the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Beyond the present crisis, these 4-star ratings are indicative of the consistency and sustained excellence that each Houston Airports employee is committed to.” Diaz said. “Despite this crisis, we will use this time to continue to make improvements that will help us reach our vision of establishing Houston Airports as a five-star global air service gateway where the magic of flight is celebrated.” 

The complete results of the Skytrax World Airport Awards can be found at this link. 

About Houston Airports
Houston Airports is the City of Houston’s Department of Aviation. Comprised of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) / Houston Spaceport, Houston Airports served nearly 60 million passengers in 2019. Houston Airports form one of North America's largest public airport systems and position Houston as the international passenger and cargo gateway to the South Central United States and a primary gateway to Latin America. Houston is proud to be the only city in the Western Hemisphere with two Skytrax rated 4-star airports. Learn more at fly2houston.com. 

About Skytrax
The World Airport Ratings are the international airport quality rating program operated by Skytrax. Ratings are determined through direct and professional analysis of industry quality standards. The airport star ratings are recognized as a global benchmark of airport standards. The Skytrax World Airport Awards — a global benchmark of airport excellence — are among the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry.  

The World Airport Awards are often referred to as the Oscars of the aviation industry, and are a global benchmark of airport excellence. Travelers across the globe take part each year in the world’s largest airport passenger satisfaction survey to decide the winners.