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International markets continue to accelerate growth at Houston’s airports
Traveling through Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports, over 26 million passengers have made use of the Houston Airport System’s (HAS) state-of-the-art facilities through the first six months of 2008. The latest air traffic travel report, released this month by HAS, reveals international traffic is driving the bulk of the airport system’s growth.
International regions such as Central and South America combined; Europe, Canada and Mexico have registered the most significant year-to-date increases in passenger traffic, with respective year-over-year growth of 12 percent, 9.7 percent, 5.3 percent and 2.4 percent. Overall international passenger traffic in Houston has increased by 6.5 percent through June 2008.
William P. Hobby Airport once again registered a healthy increase of 6.4 percent in total passenger traffic through the first six months of 2008, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2007. The airport is expected to serve a record 9 million passengers by the end of this year for the first time in its history.
International air cargo traffic also continued registering significant growth through the first six months of 2008, primarily fueled by the addition of new services by Singapore Airlines and Emirates earlier this year. Overall international air cargo shipments have increased by 6.7 percent year-over-year through the month of June.
The air carriers with the most significant growth in air cargo traffic during the month of June 2008 were Air France, Burlington Air Express and Cargolux, with respective year-over-year increases of 57.4 percent, 18.3 percent and 13 percent, all in comparison to the same timeframe in 2007. The international regions with the most significant growth in air cargo shipments through June 2008 were Mexico; Central and South America combined; and Europe, with respective year-over-year increases of 21.2 percent, 12 percent and 11.3 percent.
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The Houston Airport System served a record 52 million passengers in 2007. It is the 4th-largest multi-airport system in the U.S. and the 6th-largest in the world. Bush Intercontinental is the nation's 8th-busiest airport. According to J.D. Powers & Associates, William P. Hobby Airport is among the top-performing airports in terms of customer satisfaction in the United States. HAS annually contributes over $24 billion in positive economic impact to the Greater Houston region. For more information watch Houston Airports Today every Saturday at 9:00 am on KTBU Channel 55 or visit www.fly2houston.com | 
