Traffic Update 
December 2007

 Detailed Results - 122K

A record 52 million passengers were served by George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports in 2007. That’s according to the yearend traffic figures released this week by the Houston Airport System.

Of those travelers, over 7.7 million were on their way to international destinations – marking a significant year-over-year increase of 4.2 percent, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2006. Newcomer Emirates Airline fueled part of that growth with their recently added three times a week service to Dubai.

In February 2008, the Middle Eastern carrier will increase their service to daily flights.

The international region with the most significant increase during the month of December 2007 was Asia, Africa and Australia combined, with a dramatic increase of 30 percent in passenger traffic.

Among the airlines with the most significant passenger traffic increases, last year, were Lufthansa and TACA, with respective year-over-year increases of 31 percent and 19.2 percent. The Houston Airport System anticipates continued growth in international passenger traffic due to increased services in 2008. Singapore Airlines will add new service to Houston beginning in March; and Continental Airlines and British Airways will introduce two daily flights each to Heathrow Airport in London, that same month.

Air cargo traffic also registered a significant increase in 2007. Over 387,000 metric tons of air cargo were transported by the Houston Airport System, last year, marking a significant increase of 5.4 percent, year-over-year.

Total international air freight shipments to and from Houston grew by 3.5 percent, year-over-year, in 2007. With the addition of several new Asian all-cargo carriers – including China Airlines, Korean Air Cargo and EVA Air Cargo – the airport system is anticipating continued air cargo growth this year.

Cargo carriers Federal Express and Saudi Arabian Airlines were among the top-performing cargo airlines in Houston, registering increases of 30.3 percent and 22.4 percent, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2006.   

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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 first in customer satisfaction among smaller airports 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