George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH) is the primary international airport serving Houston, Texas, and the largest airport in Texas by passenger traffic. Located approximately 23 miles north of downtown Houston, IAH is owned and operated by Houston Airports, a department of the City of Houston.
The airport opened for commercial operations on June 8, 1969, as Houston Intercontinental Airport, replacing the older William P. Hobby Airport as the city’s primary gateway. It was renamed in May 1997 in honor of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a longtime Houston resident.
IAH is a major hub for United Airlines, which operates the most flights from the airport, and serves as a key gateway between the United States and Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The airport consists of five terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) with 116 total gates. The Skyway automated people mover connects all five terminals on the airside, while an underground Subway train provides landside connections between terminals and the airport hotel.
In 2025, IAH and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) together served 62 million passengers, with international traffic at Bush Airport reaching a record 12.4 million passengers, a 2.5% increase over 2024. The airport is undergoing a major $2.5 billion Terminal B Transformation project, which will open in fall 2026 with 22 new gates, a new Central Processor, and the largest United Club in the airline’s system.