Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

Houston has long been called the gateway to Latin America. In 2024, 5 million passengers flew between Houston and Mexico, an increase of 3% from 2023. An additional 3.6 million people flew between Houston and Central or South America, up 9% from 2023.In August 2025, Frontier Airlines is doubling down on that momentum by announcing three new nonstop routes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Guatemala City, Guatemala, San Salvador, El Salvador and San Pedro Sula, Honduras beginning this December.The ultra-low-fare carrier joins an already competitive field. United, Avianca, Spirit and Volaris El Salvador also serve Houston with nonstop flights across Central America. Together, they offer passengers a growing menu of choices—affordable options for families traveling to see loved ones, reliable service for business travelers and new opportunities for tourists eager to explore the region.Why Central America?For Houston travelers, Central America is close, affordable and rich with experiences. El Salvador is fast emerging as a destination for eco-tourism and world-class surfing along La Libertad’s Pacific coast. Guatemala offers vibrant Mayan culture, colonial cities like Antigua and breathtaking landscapes framed by volcanoes. Honduras boasts the coral reefs of Roatán and the cultural energy of San Pedro Sula. Each destination offers something distinct—yet all are only about a 3-hour flight from Houston. This means travelers can leave Houston in the morning and eat pupusas in San Salvador or explore the ruins of Tikal by lunch.Why Houston?For Central Americans, Houston represents family, opportunity and cultural connection. The city is home to one of the largest Salvadoran communities in the U.S. and vibrant Guatemalan and Honduran populations. Houston’s Central American restaurants, community centers and consulates make the city feel like a second home. Pair that with Houston’s reputation as one of the most diverse cities in America—with award-winning restaurants, world-class sports, NASA and the arts—and it’s clear why Houston is a magnet for visitors from the region.A growing networkWith Frontier’s announcement, Houston strengthened its position as one of the most connected cities in Central America. Houston offers Central American visitors a seamless gateway to the rest of the U.S. and beyond.As Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said, “We want to ensure consumers in those markets continue to have affordable flight options.”For Houston Airports, that means more connections, choices and opportunities for passengers to experience the cultures, businesses and economies that connect the Americas.

At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the only constant is motion. Flights land and depart in an unbroken rhythm. Weather shifts without warning. Passengers surge through terminals, and hundreds of decisions—large and small—must be made in real time. In 2024, Bush Airport welcomed a record 48 million passengers. 2026 is poised to be even busier. The city of Houston is scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup for the first time. A surge of soccer fans is expected to swell the airport next summer, which is why this summer’s official activation of the new Integrated Coordination Center (ICC) is significant.The rows of workstations glow with real-time feeds — weather radars, gate assignments and a live map of every plane moving in the Houston airspace. The ICC feels more like mission control than an airport office, and in many ways, it is.For the first time in Houston Airport System history, all the critical players who keep Bush Airport moving — from TSA and Houston Police Department to maintenance dispatch and terminal operations — are working side-by-side, eyes on the same information, speaking in the same room.“By bringing everyone under one roof, we’ve torn down the silos,” says Stephen Mamo, senior division manager of the ICC and Emergency Operations Center at Bush Airport for Houston Airports. “We’re streamlining communication, making collaborative decisions and improving our ability to respond — in real time — to whatever the day brings.”Mamo shared that the ICC has been five years in the making. Houston Airports studied best practices from across the country, drawing inspiration from top-tier hubs and adding features explicitly designed for Houston’s needs. The result is a state-of-the-art operational center that can pivot from everyday monitoring to full-scale emergency management in seconds.When a hurricane approaches the Gulf, the ICC becomes a 24/7 war room. When a major diversion strands multiple aircraft, gate control can work directly with airline partners to find solutions without waiting for an email or a call to bounce between offices. And when soccer fans land at Bush Airport in 2026, the ICC will coordinate security, traffic and passenger movement for record-breaking crowds.For passengers, the changes are invisible — and that’s the point. Whether it’s keeping restrooms operational, securing the airfield perimeter or rerouting travelers when weather disrupts a flight, the ICC’s job is to make the journey from plane to curb feel seamless.“It’s about accurate, timely information,” Mamo says. “It’s about safety, clarity and making sure that, even on the most challenging days, people feel confident traveling through Houston.”

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.