On January 14, the Houston City Council approved action to change the name of Houston’s oldest airport from “Ellington Field” to “Ellington Airport” (EFD). 

The change is intended to broaden the future use of the airport with high hopes it will grow as a business asset.

“We’ve known for some time that our runways at Ellington are primed to serve as a reliever airport for both Hobby and Bush Intercontinental,” said Houston Airport System director Rick Vacar. “The name change will enhance our efforts to market this aviation asset to general aviation and commercial developers who want to operate at an airport with unlimited possibilities.”

Houston’s Ellington Airport offers untapped potential with three active runways, a 24-hour Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Tower and two fixed based operators. One of the strongest assets is the location of the airport with convenient highways access on the city’s southeast side.

“We have land available for private T-hangar development and at the same time we can accommodate industrial, office or commercial development with more than 300 acres ready to be developed,” added Vacar.

City leaders are now hoping that these features, along with the name change, will transform Ellington into an even greater economic generator for both the Houston Airport System and the surrounding area. 

The name change will not impact existing tenants, who have the option of retaining the name “Ellington Field” for their own purposes.

Two of the facility’s key tenants, the Texas Air National Guard and NASA, are expected to maintain their affection for the name “Ellington Field” for their own airport operations.

Whatever you call this amazing airport, the contribution it will make to our future success in Houston is sure to live on.