May 2007 Newsletter

Hobby Airport among the most inexpensive in the nation According to the latest Air Travel Price Index study conducted by the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a division of the Department of Trasnportation, Hobby Airport passengers are paying up to $100 less than at other airports across the nation. The study, which is a measure of actual fares paid by travelers over time – not published fares, found that the average passenger at Houston’s second-largest airport paid about $277.46 per airline ticket. Read Story

Watch the latest episode of Houston Airports Today
It’s a battle of the titans this month on our Houston Airports Today program. We’ll compare the mighty Antonov 225 with the brand new Airbus A-380. Our airport menagerie includes a few war-birds, a couple of dragons and the train Mickey Mouse used to ride in. We’ll show you airport fire fighting, moving a church and saving lives, when you join us for Houston Airports Today. It’s available on the Municipal Channel every Wednesday at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. You can also catch it by tuning in to, KTBU Channel 55, “The Tube,” every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Or just click on the following link and enjoy it on your computer. Watch the Latest Episode

12 million passengers in three months
Three months into the New Year, George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby Airports have already served more than 12 million passengers. Ellington Field has seen a 23.5 percent increase in aircraft operations through the month of March 2007. During that month, the joint-use civil/military airport saw a dramatic increase of 51 percent in aircraft operations, many of them from general aviation and military aircraft. In fact, 33,451 aircraft have already touched base at Ellington Field during the first three months of this year. Read Story

City of the future
In the park. At a bar. On a city bench. Anywhere you wish you would have internet access. The recent ordinance approved by Houston’s City Council would make the city one of the largest wireless networks in the nation. The plan is for all of Houston’s 600-sqaure-miles to be meshed into one single Wireless Fidelity network that would enable users to logon from virtually any corner of city’s expansive geographical region. Read Story

Houston students honored at Hobby Airport 
Emotions ran high as dozens of area students and their parents celebrated the new art gallery that will be adorning the walls of the airport's Central Concourse through the end of the year. Cheering and applause could be heard throughout the airport’s Central Concourse as the crowd reveled in the delight of seeing their art works displayed along the main entrance of Hobby’s ticketing lobby. Read Story 

The orange Dolphins in the sky 
Wearing the United States Coast Guard seal of authority takes more than strength and agility. The red, white and blue enblazoned badge means having to make some tough calls sometimes. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston say it might mean having to save one life over another. In these instances, the emotional and psychological strains of making such a decision must be conquered. Read Story

Like a well-oiled machine, the first ever OTC on-airport registration program operated flawlessly
It’s a big year for the Offshore Technology Conference, the world’s premier energy technology gathering, and the Houston Airport System helped clear the way for the record setting crowd with an innovative program featuring first ever on-site registration at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Through the on-site registration program, OTC attendees were able to proceed directly from clearing customs to two information booths at the airport that had been transformed into registration booths for the global conference. Read Story

Ice cream on the fly
William P. Hobby Airport served up cookies and cake during the celebration of its 80th anniversary. Now Blue Bell is serving up the ice cream to celebrate its 100th anniversary and some of it is being whisked through the system at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The famed Texas Company, headquartered in Brenham, Texas serves more than 50 flavors of the sweet delicacy to customers all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Read Story 

The odyssey of a flight attendant  
Even after 35 years the memories of that day still haunt Josette Dishongh. With tears in her eyes and an overwhelming feeling of mixed emotions, she admits going back to the memories of that day is too much – even for her. The Canadian-born former flight attendant is known for her gutsy personality and bold approach to handling uncomfortable situations. In this instance, however, her characteristic traits were no match for the raw sensations that overcame her. Read Story

Houston’s ‘Silver Lining’ to be honored once again 
Over the last two and a half decades appreciation for Houston’s largest airport in the local region has increased dramatically – especially among those who have grown alongside the airport. What started out as a bold business venture in the late 1960s has blossomed into one of the city’s most valuable international attractions. Read Story

Melodies of leisure at the airports
Rhythms of nature, tunes of release and melodies of inspiration are just a few of the sounds offered by the stringed harmonies of Robin Berry and Stephen Marq’s music at Bush and Hobby airports. These two veterans of the easy listening music genre are bringing a new ambience to the world of airport travel. Through their partnership with the Houston Airport System the forceful duo is using their individual sounds to relax and soothe the more than 51 million passengers that travel through Houston’s airports each year. Read Story 

From the airwaves to the airport  
His face might not be as familiar as some of pro ball players he usually hangs out with, but his voice is unmistakable. Milo Hamilton is the official sports announcer of the Houston Astros. At each home game and on syndicated radio talk shows his voice can be heard calling the plays, often bringing fans to their feet both at the stadium and at home. For passengers at William P. Hobby Airport running into the four-time Hall-of-Famer, recently, was an unexpected treat. Read Story

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George Bush Intercontinental - William P. Hobby - Ellington Field

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Director          Richard Vacar
Editor       Richard Fernandez
Writers:        Juan Alanis 
                          Marlene McClinton
                         Melissa Delgado  

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