Welcome toWilliam P. Hobby Airport

At 3 a.m., while most of Houston sleeps, Kelly Woodward sometimes does too, until her phone buzzes with a weather alert or an incident on the airfield. Cargo flights push through the night, storms shift across the Gulf, and the system she runs never really pauses. As chief operating officer of Houston Airports—and the first woman to hold the job—it’s her responsibility to keep the fourth-largest U.S. city connected to the world.Kelly Woodward tours a construction site at Bush Airport in 2024In March 2024, Woodward made history when she was appointed chief operating officer of Houston Airports. The role puts her in charge of George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU), Ellington Airport (EFD) and the Houston Spaceport — together a city within a city, with 1,200 employees, 63 million passengers a year and more than 180 nonstop destinations. “It’s exciting. It’s fun. A desk job would be boring,” she said with a grin. “I’m responsible for 1,200 employees and just trying to do right by them. That’s my biggest focus.”Woodward talks with employees during an appreciation lunch in 2024. Her dream, though, started far from Houston. Growing up in New Jersey, Woodward was the kid who stopped to watch the rumble of planes overhead. “I was always fascinated by astronauts and space travel,” she said. That curiosity propelled her to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in aeronautical science, a commercial pilot’s license and a flight instructor certificate.By her early 20s, she was teaching others to fly, certain the cockpit was her launchpad. Then came 9/11. “I was a flight instructor in Florida when the terrorist attacks happened, and the training schools shut down,” she said. “Airlines weren’t hiring. Training programs froze. I thought I might eventually return to flying, but opportunities opened up in Houston instead.”She moved to Texas on the recommendation of friends. Two decades later, she has built a career defined not by smooth takeoffs, but by turbulence, persistence and a steady refusal to accept “no” as the final answer.Woodward joined Houston Airports in 2002 as an operations coordinator. She climbed steadily, serving as an airside operations supervisor, division manager of custodial services, interim general manager of Bush Airport and assistant director of operational readiness. She later stepped into the private sector as managing director with AvAirPros, overseeing terminal systems integration and baggage handling for the IAH Terminal B Transformation.“I’ve done enough jobs out here to understand what my employees need and what they go through to really relate to them,” she said.Woodward welcomes new employees to Houston Airports in 2025. She describes her management as rooted in empathy, visibility and accountability. “Whether it be the airside or the operational side, my job is to be out there checking everything out,” she said. “I’m out there ensuring everyone has the tools to succeed in their jobs.”Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said she was the clear choice. “Kelly’s wealth of experience and leadership skills make her the perfect COO,” he said. “We have full confidence in her ability to drive our strategic initiatives forward.”Woodward joins Aviation Director Jim Szczesniak along a new Arrivals Curb at IAH in 2024.Her appointment is more than a personal milestone; it’s a message. Aviation remains stubbornly male at the top. Woodward’s presence signals a shift. “The challenge is making sure everyone enjoys coming to work, feels valued and feels they have a focus and know they can come to me,” she said.Woodward talks to employees during an appreciation lunch in 2024.That philosophy was evident when she hosted a group of young women at Bush Airport through the Camp Counselor Career Catalyst program. Many were from underserved communities. Before sitting down with Woodward, they toured everything from runway inspections to emergency management. “We were thrilled to host these young women and to show them the range of careers available within the Houston Airport System,” she said. “It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and to hear the thoughtful questions they asked.” Some left with a new sense of possibility. “By providing young women with opportunities to explore different career paths, this visit was more than just a field trip,” she said. “It was an opportunity for them to envision a future in aviation.”Girls in Aviation Day, which falls on Saturday, Sept. 20, will spotlight leaders like Woodward. She’s scheduled to speak to girls between 8 and 17 at Chennault Aviation Academy in Houston.For all her professional responsibility, Woodward doesn’t hesitate when asked about her most important title. “My number one job is mom,” she said. “Your job is your job, but at the end of the day, my kids need me.”Her husband, a cargo pilot, helps her manage a busy household with three children, two dogs and two cats. She credits her mother, who was a newspaper executive, with showing her how to balance ambition and family. “My mom taught me to do right by people,” she said.Woodward celebrates a new route served by Volaris in 2025. The grit of her Jersey roots has never left her. “My motto is: don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. You miss 100 percent of the chances you don’t take,” she said. But Houston has shaped her, too. “Houston’s diversity, great food and culture have grown on me. Texas is a little different. I love it here.”Woodward launches a monthly talk show for employees in 2024, Catch up with Kelly.Woodward has taken on every role, faced every setback and turned each “no” into momentum. Today, she leads with the same grit that carried her from a grounded flight instructor to the first woman COO of Houston Airports. The titles may have changed, but her compass has not: do right by people and prove that the skies really are wide enough for anyone determined to rise.

Passengers bound for Gates 20 through 23 at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) now walk past a miniature storefront that looks less like a mall kiosk and more like a jewel box. The wooden-framed shop, tucked in the concourse across from Gate 21, is topped with a bright yellow sign: Chalo and Co. Travelers dragging roller bags pause to study the display of colorful totes, mugs and pouches, and some linger long enough to buy one.Chalo & Co. is a travel-gift and lifestyle brand born of dissatisfaction. Danialle An started the business in 2010, designing for other companies while slowly growing her ambition.“When I used to travel, I would see souvenir stores that didn’t represent a city the way they should,” she said. “Every city, like a person, is unique. I wanted to celebrate cities in a different way.”Between 2010 and 2015, Chalo & Co. mostly did contract design work. But An believed there was a gap in the market. “There was space in the travel gift industry that wasn’t meeting the needs of people who don’t buy traditional souvenirs,” she said. “We cater to people who care about aesthetics, are passionate about their city and want something more elevated and fun. And it’s not just travelers. Locals are ambassadors. If you can excite the locals, they’ll excite everyone else.”The name Chalo comes from India, where An lived for seven years. In Hindi, chalo means “let’s go.”“I loved how happy people were when they said chalo,” she said. “To me it’s not just about travel. It means let’s go with life, let’s go elevate our city, let’s go do something. It’s powerful and playful at the same time.”Her little mascot, Chalo Man, will soon step into the spotlight. “He’s observant, good-hearted and a little mysterious,” she said. “He has legs but no mouth, because he transports his ideas through our products. In 2026, he’ll be officially launched. I think people will fall in love with him.”She could have sold magnets or postcards. Instead, Chalo became known for its bags.“Women love bags. They’re easy to pack and carry, and they feel more elevated than key chains or magnets,” An said. “I wanted to make a statement that we were different. Bags are functional, but they also let you show pride. When you carry one, you’re saying, I love this city.”At Hobby, that pride hangs on racks: totes printed like old boarding passes with “TO: HOUSTON” in bold yellow letters; pouches resembling stamped envelopes addressed to “Mr. Bush, 1837 NASA Road”; and oversized canvas shoppers decorated with comic-strip pigs advertising Texas barbecue.Opening at Hobby Airport wasn’t just another expansion. It was personal. An’s sister has lived in Houston for 40 years, and that local insight helped shape the first Houston collection.“We always do research before we enter a city,” she said. “We talk to locals about what really represents their home. In Houston, we wanted to start with designs people would immediately recognize, but there’s more coming. You’ll see bluebonnets, barbecue, space travel and hospitality themes. As we grow, we’ll expand into lifestyle collections with home goods, children’s wear and textiles.”The early lineup blends whimsy and identity: tote bags patterned with postage-stamp cartoons of Texas icons, mugs labeled like boarding passes,and luggage tags shaped like baseballs, cows in cowboy boots and rockets. Even the baby section nods to Texas swagger, with onesies reading “Rootin’ + Tootin’” stacked neatly on shelves.Chalo & Co’s kiosk at Hobby Airport officially opened on Thursday, Sept.11, 2025. The launch was emotional.“It took a while to get here,” An said. “We first started talks in 2022, but we faced challenges along the way. Seeing it finally open, I was so happy. We designed the kiosk to look like a tiny shop, not a mall kiosk. When the construction walls came down, the final result turned out better than I expected. The community at Houston Airports came by and said, We love it. That was so satisfying.”An is already planning the next stage. “We’re starting with gifts, but eventually Chalo will become a lifestyle brand,” she said. “In Seattle, we have children’s wear and home décor. In Houston, we’ll add more depth each season. The goal is to create spaces where people can surround themselves with Chalo products.”Chalo Man will be part of that future. “He creates curiosity,” she said. “When people see him, I want them to think, That’s Chalo.”Chalo & Co is woman-owned, minority-owned, and still a small business. Securing a spot inside an airport like Hobby is no small feat. For An, the opportunity is more than commerce.“It means representation,” she said. “It’s the chance for my design voice to show up in people’s lives and for local makers to be seen, to be carried.”Now, tucked among the departure gates, Danialle An’s products wait like stories on display. Travelers heading to Gates 20 and 21 grab a boarding pass mug. Families pause to point at a tote covered in stamp-sized Texas landmarks. Locals smile at the cartoon cowboys lassoed across pouches.Every sale is a moment of “let’s go.”

The sound hits you before the jet lag does. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), travelers are just as likely to be greeted by a trumpet flourish or piano solo as they are by rolling luggage and security calls. For a decade, Harmony in the Air has turned Houston’s airports into concert halls that passengers never expected but rarely forget.Launched in June 2015, the program began as a pilot in one corner of IAH — an experiment to see if travelers would pause long enough during their layovers to enjoy a live performance. They did, in droves. Passengers lingered in front of the stage, children danced and business travelers recorded videos to send home. That overwhelming response transformed a test run into a permanent program. And, guided by years of consistent passenger feedback, it grew from that single stage to multiple performance sites across IAH and HOU.Today, Harmony in the Air features more than 186 professional musicians and 26 ensembles spanning jazz, classical, gospel, pop and R&B. Performances take place daily in IAH Terminals A, D and E and in the rotunda of HOU’s Central Concourse.Since its launch in 2015, Harmony in the Air has blossomed into one of the most cherished experiences for our passengers. Time and again, travelers share how the music has lifted their spirits, inspired them or brought a touch of joy to their journey.It has also become the most complimented amenity across Houston Airports. No matter the traveler — international or domestic, business or leisure — passengers consistently take the time to send in feedback, praising Harmony in the Air as the moment that made their trip better. That volume of feedback is more than applause — it’s data. It has shaped the program’s expansion, validated investments, and proven that live music has a measurable impact on passenger experience.Passengers say it best. “Absolutely enjoyed the live music and musicians today,” wrote one traveler departing Hobby. Another called it “calming,” while a third said, “It was very relaxing and just good to sit in front of the performance before a long flight.” At Bush Airport, feedback highlights the program’s power to shift moods instantly: “Having live music through Harmony in the Air is such a nice addition… it made my day.”That chorus of compliments builds a portrait of Houston’s cultural identity as much as it does the airport system’s hospitality. The lineup is curated to showcase Houston’s breadth of sound—from Latin jazz combos to gospel soloists and string quartets. For some passengers, it’s their first taste of Houston’s creative soul. For others, it’s a reminder of home.LEARN MORE | Harmony in the Air at Hobby AirportLEARN MORE | Harmony in the Air at Bush Airport “At Houston Airports, we don’t just showcase art—we create cultural moments,” said Alton DuLaney, chief curator of cultural affairs for the City of Houston. “As Houston prepares for the 2026 World Cup, Harmony in the Air will share this city’s creative energy with millions of visitors from around the world. Travelers have choices in where they connect—we want them to choose Houston, where live music is part of the World’s Best Airport Art Program and where the culture of this city elevates every journey.”Passenger feedback makes clear this isn’t background noise — it’s a competitive edge. In a world where travelers can choose to connect through Atlanta, Dallas or Miami, Houston’s airports stand apart. Harmony in the Air, backed by a reputation as the World’s Best Airport Art Program since 2023, offers passengers something more than efficiency. It offers them an experience worth seeking out, a reason to choose Houston.The investment has paid dividends in recognition. Houston Airports is consistently honored by Skytrax, which praised the “creativity, vibrancy and identity” infused into the terminals.For musicians, the program is just as transformative. “We’re touching people,” said violist Whitney Bullock of Apollo Chamber Players. “That’s the power of bringing music into a place as busy and stressful as an airport.”Ten years on, Harmony in the Air is no background soundtrack. It’s a cultural signature, born from a pilot, expanded by data, and shaped by the voices of passengers themselves. In Houston, even a layover can sound like a performance worth remembering.