HOUSTON, TEXAS – For the second consecutive year, Airports Council International, ACI, has designated both George Bush Intercontinental, IAH, and William P. Hobby, HOU, airports as safe and secure airports for the traveling public.  

ACI’s  Airport Health Accreditation  program recognizes airports around the world for prioritizing health and safety measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston’s two commercial airports were the first in Texas to be given this international accreditation in 2020.  

“I’m so proud of our management and staff for their tireless efforts to keep everyone safe,” said Liliana Rambo, Chief Terminal Management Officer at Houston Airports. “This achievement validates that the health and safety measures we have implemented and practice daily are in alignment with international best practices.” 

To become accredited, ACI conducts an assessment to determine how aligned an airport’s health measures are with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines, ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations and industry best practices. The program is open to all ACI member airports of all sizes and in all regions.  

The program enables airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators, and governments that they are prioritizing health and safety in a measurable, established manner while also validating their own measures and processes. 

“We will never compromise our standards and our commitment to serve the traveling public. The Houston Airports team, from division managers to custodial workers, are to be applauded. I salute each and every one of them for their vigilance, consistency and excellence.” Rambo said. 

The accreditation recognizes the effectiveness of Houston Airports’ FlySafe Houston  program, which was launched in June 2020 to directly combat and mitigate the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. FlySafe Houston offers a detailed commitment to new safety measures to safeguard a healthy airport experience. Priorities include mask and face covering requirements for all Houston Airports employees, touchless kiosks at select airline ticketing counters, facial comparison technology at select international departing gates and all immigration entry points, deep cleanings, social distancing markers in queues, safety shields, additional installment of hand sanitizer stations, increased frequency of air filter replacements and public announcements and signage to promote good hygiene and social distancing.   

FlySafe Houston aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at every corner of Houston’s airports. The FlySafe Houston health initiative was developed to work in unison with the airports’ airline partners’ existing health and safety programs to create a “curb to gate” safety promise.