1.3 million passengers to fly through Houston during Memorial Day weekend

May 20, 2026

HOUSTON — Memorial Day weekend will launch the summer travel season at Houston Airports with 1.3 million passengers, a fully operational international terminal, new nonstop service and more ways for travelers to prepare.

Houston Airports expects passenger traffic at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) between Thursday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 27, to remain consistent with last year’s holiday travel period.

This year, the bigger story is an improved passenger experience.

NOW: 1.3 MILLION PASSENGERS Travelers should expect full flights, active curbs and busy terminals throughout the holiday period. Houston Airports encourages passengers to reserve parking early, check their terminal before arriving and monitor flight status directly with their airline.

NEW: TERMINAL E IS FULLY OPERATIONAL At Bush Airport, Terminal E is now fully operational. Foreign flag air carriers have completed their move from Terminal D to Terminal E, all curbs and TSA lanes are open and a new baggage handling system is operating.

IAH is also entering summer with new international momentum. ITA Airways recently launched Houston’s first nonstop service to Rome, seasonal summer flights are beginning and United Airlines is reporting strong demand for summer travel from Houston.

Houston’s airports are served by 29 airlines offering 201 nonstop flights to 129 domestic destinations and 72 international destinations.

United Airlines, IAH’s largest air carrier, provided the following summer travel update:

United Airlines expects more than 50 million passengers to fly with the airline from June to August, 3 million more than last year. In Houston, United serves an average of more than 70,000 passengers per month out of IAH. Even with a historic spike in jet fuel costs, leading to a volatile economy for most, airline booking data shows that Houstonians aren't canceling their summer plans; instead, they’re being intentional about where they’re going and willing to make the investment to get there. The airline has already booked more than 40% of its total seat capacity for June.

United’s most-booked destinations for summer 2026 include Cancun, Punta Cana, San Juan and Mexico City, for which the airline is seeing an increase of more than 90%. Additionally, United recently announced it is bringing back its nonstop flight between Houston and Caracas, Venezuela, starting August 11, after a nearly decade-long hiatus.

NEW: MORE FOOD, MORE TRANSIT, MORE FLEXIBILITY Travelers at IAH and HOU will find new restaurants that have opened since last Memorial Day, including more local flavor, trusted national brands and convenient options before takeoff.

This is also the first Memorial Day weekend with METRO’s 500 Downtown Direct operating at both IAH and HOU, giving travelers another option to reach the airport without driving.

Parking reservations are also more flexible this year. Travelers are strongly encouraged to reserve airport parking before arriving. This Memorial Day, reservations must be made at least two hours before arrival. Last year, a 12-hour notice was required.

NEXT: SUMMER STARTS HERE For passengers planning summer travel, Houston Airports is highlighting its Explore Destinations tool on Fly2Houston.com. The platform allows travelers to search nonstop destinations from IAH and HOU, view route maps and explore destination content, including images and videos of landmarks, attractions and must-see areas.