The new system will enhance convenience and security at Hobby Airport's Red and Blue Garages by September.
Houston Airports is advancing its mission to deliver a seamless travel experience with the rollout of its latest cashless parking system at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). As part of a phased approach, the Red and Blue Garages are transitioning to a fully cashless system, which will be complete in early September.
The new system utilizes License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, which expedites entry and exit for vehicles with parking reservations. Additionally, near-Field Communication (NFC) capabilities enable contactless payment through digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, further streamlining the payment process.
The technology supports some efficient options for customers:
- A customer can make a parking reservation online, at least 12 hours before heading to the airport. The vehicle's license plate number - included in the reservation details – will be read by the LPR technology, creating a seamless experience when entering and exiting the garage.
- Upon entering a Houston Airports parking facility, customers without a parking reservation can tap or insert a credit card and use the same credit card to exit or take a parking ticket from the kiosk. The ticket is linked to the vehicle's license plate number. When exiting the garage, the system will read the license plate number and prompt the customer to pay by credit card.
- Customers can use credit cards to enter the parking facility. When they exit, they must pay with the same credit card.
Houston Airports strongly encourages customers to reserve parking online. Doing so guarantees a parking spot in the facility, often saves the customer money, and offers a seamless experience entering and exiting the garage with no credit card or ticket required.
“At Houston Airports, our mission is to connect people, cultures and economies of the world to Houston. We do that through our strategic priorities of making our passengers happy while building platforms for future success,” said Walt Gray, Director of Parking and Ground Transportation for Houston Airports. “Implementing a cashless parking system aligns perfectly with our mission by providing a more efficient, secure, and convenient travel experience for our passengers.”
The cashless parking system rollout will be implemented in phases across all Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) parking facilities. The initial phase updated seven customer lanes at ecoPark 2 at Bush Airport to accept cashless payments in June 2024. By September, Hobby Airport's entrances and 10 Garage exit lanes will operate a fully cashless system. The phased project will continue, with all parking facilities transitioned to cashless payment by the end of May 2025.
As Houston Airports continues this rollout across all its facilities, passengers can expect quicker transactions, reduced congestion, and a more sustainable operation. The shift to cashless parking reflects the commitment of Houston Airports to innovation and improving passenger satisfaction at every step of the journey.