George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the second largest airport in Texas, serves as a primary international gateway for the southern United States and the Greater Houston metropolitan area. It is a major hub for United Airlines, which operates a significant number of its domestic and international flights from the facility. Opened in June 1969 as Houston Intercontinental Airport, it was renamed in 1997 to honor the 41st U.S.
- Diverse Dining Options: IAH offers a wide array of food and beverage choices, including local Texan cuisine. Travelers can find options like Pappasito's Cantina in Terminal A, Cat Cora's Kitchen in Terminal E, and The Q in Terminal B. Terminals A and C are particularly noted for their variety of eateries.
- Airport Lounges: The airport provides numerous lounges, including multiple United Clubs, an American Express Centurion Lounge (Terminal D), Air France Lounge, British Airways Lounges, and a United Polaris Lounge, offering comfortable spaces with amenities like Wi-Fi and refreshments.
- Efficient Inter-terminal Transportation: The Skyway (above-ground people mover) and Subway (underground train) systems are praised for facilitating easy and quick movement between all five terminals, including airside and landside connections.
- Art and Live Music: IAH features an extensive public art program and offers daily live music performances through its "Harmony in the Air" program in Terminals A and D, providing a pleasant diversion for travelers.
- Free Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.
- Excessive Security Wait Times and Rude Staff: A significant and frequent complaint highlights extremely long security lines, with waits sometimes exceeding 4 hours, particularly during peak travel periods or due to TSA staffing shortages (e.g., reports from March 2026 mentioned 40% TSA staff call-out rates leading to 4+ hour waits and only two checkpoints open). Travelers also consistently report rude, unprofessional, demeaning, and condescending behavior from TSA staff, especially in Terminal A. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lines have also been noted as closed or poorly managed at times.
- Protracted Construction and Navigation Challenges: Ongoing construction, notably the closure of Terminal B lobby until late 2026 and previous work on Terminal E, leads to considerable confusion, detours, and difficulties navigating the airport. Traffic congestion and gridlock around pickup and drop-off areas due to construction are also significant issues.
- Disorganized Customs and Immigration: International arrivals frequently experience "ridiculous" and "disorganized" queues at customs and immigration, with an insufficient number of agents, causing many passengers to miss connecting flights. Wait times of 1.5 to over 2 hours have been reported.
- Limited Seating: Many travelers complain about a "dearth of sitting" and a general lack of comfortable, armrest-free seating, particularly in Terminals C and E, making it challenging to rest during layovers.
- Parking and Ground Transportation Issues: Problems include traffic flow congestion, malfunctioning payment machines at parking garages (specifically Terminal C), and slow shuttle services for remote parking lots like Ecopark 2.
- Frequent Flight Delays and Cancellations: IAH has a higher incidence of flight delays and cancellations compared to many other major U.S. airports, contributing to overall traveler stress.
Bottom line: While George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport offers a range of modern amenities and diverse dining, the traveler experience is frequently overshadowed by significant operational challenges, particularly concerning security wait times, customs processing, and the impact of ongoing construction on navigation and accessibility.
New & changed departures
21 changes to IAH's schedule in the last 90 days.
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257 nonstop destinations · 80 airlines.
Showing the top 200 destinations by frequency.
Airlines at IAH
80 carriers operate scheduled departures.
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Airport routes
George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (IAH) offers 595 flight routes operated by 80 airlines. Major carriers include United, Mesa, SkyWest and others. Popular destinations from Houston include Amsterdam Schiphol, Chicago O'Hare Intl, Hartsfield-Jackson Intl, Dallas-Fort Worth Intl, Denver Intl.
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Common questions about IAH
Quick answers, straight from the schedule data.
How many destinations have nonstop flights from IAH?
George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport has 595 scheduled routes to 257 destinations in 48 countries, operated by 80 airlines.
Which airlines fly from George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport?
80 carriers operate scheduled departures, including United, Mesa, SkyWest.
Where is George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport located?
George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport is located in Houston, US, at an elevation of 97 ft. Its IATA code is IAH and ICAO code is KIAH.