Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

The tables were packed, and the food was hot. On the opening day of Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels inside the new International Central Processor at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), travelers wasted no time making the new concessions part of their journey.Located directly across from the new 17-lane TSA security checkpoint in Terminal E, the openings mark another milestone in the airport system’s terminal redevelopment program, a sweeping modernization effort set to redefine the international travel experience in Houston.“This is exactly the type of energy and impact we envisioned when we designed a new international terminal,” said Libby Hurley, director of concessions for Houston Airports. “Concessions like these improve the passenger experience, create jobs, spotlight the brands our passengers love and underscore our commitment to making Houston a world-class gateway that residents can be proud of.”The launch of Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels comes as Houston Airports prepares for a wave of new openings in early 2026. Chili’s, Chili’s To Go and Starbucks will debut in the new International Central Processor. Velvet Taco — one of Houston’s most popular local restaurants — will open inside the expanded Terminal D.The bustling crowds on opening day suggest passengers are ready. In a departure hall gleaming with polished terrazzo floors and expansive sightlines, travelers carrying luggage stopped to enjoy hot chicken sandwiches, fresh bagels and coffee before flights. Others queued patiently, a sign that these new amenities are already woven into the rhythm of Bush Airport’s passenger experience.Hurley says the momentum is just beginning. With the World Baseball Classic and the FIFA World Cup coming to Houston in 2026, Bush Airport’s transformation aims to pair efficiency and capacity with the warm, Houston-friendly hospitality travelers expect.

Houston’s airport director is rewriting leadership one step at a time.Airports are often run from boardrooms, not baggage claims. But in Houston, Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak prefers a different vantage point. Several times a week, he trades conference calls for concourses, walking the terminals of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to talk directly with passengers and employees. It’s leadership in motion—face-to-face, unscripted and designed to catch problems before they become headlines.“It’s about staying connected to the operation and to the people,” Szczesniak said. “Houston Airports welcomed a whopping 63.1 million passengers in 2024. We inject $40.6 billion into the region’s economy, and our airports are ranked among the best in the world.”The ritual isn’t new. “This approach started while leading the team at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska,” he said. “I made walking the terminals to engage with staff a priority then, and I’ve carried it with me to Houston. It’s important to be out in the field when leading a large, complex operation like this with more than 1,200 employees.”He times the walks deliberately. “I typically walk HOU and IAH on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons,” Szczesniak said. “Those are busy travel periods, and the walks give me a solid bookend to the week. I’ve blocked time on my calendar to make sure it happens. It helps me stay connected to airport operations, spot issues early and thank employees for a job well done.”The feedback has been immediate and personal. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from employees,” he said. “Whether it’s terminal staff, maintenance crews or airfield operations, people appreciate that leadership is present and listening.”On Valentine's Day, Szczesaniak shared chocolates with passengers. In December 2025, he joined a high school choir as they serenaded passengers with holiday carols.In 2024, Houston Airports rolled out bright orange polo shirts for all employees who interact with passengers. “Orange means we can help,” Szczesniak said. “When I wear our signature orange polo, passengers often stop me with questions or concerns. That’s valuable. It helps me understand where the pain points are so I can work with the team to remove them.”Most staff recognize him, but passengers rarely do. “I’ve had travelers ask who I am, and when I say, ‘I’m Jim Szczesniak, Houston Airports Director,’ they’re surprised,” he said. “They don’t expect to see it in the fourth-largest city in the U.S., but that’s the point. I want people to see leadership out in the terminal, answering questions, offering help and being part of the experience—that’s Texas hospitality.”The greatest value, Szczesniak says, comes from hearing repeated concerns. “The biggest value is hearing directly from passengers about what’s not working,” he said. “As airport professionals, we don’t always see the friction points passengers experience. But when you get asked the same question over and over, that’s a signal that something needs fixing. These terminal walks help me identify those blind spots and work with the team to find solutions.”His message to other airport directors is simple: get out from behind the desk. “You’re doing it wrong if you’re not out in the terminal regularly,” he said. “You can’t lead an airport from behind a desk. Being out in the field—talking with travelers, listening to staff—that’s how you know what kind of experience you’re actually delivering. It’s how you spot problems early and build a strong, motivated team. Face-to-face interaction is critical if you’re serious about running a world-class airport.”For Szczesniak, the orange shirt isn’t a uniform. It’s a statement: that billion-dollar airports are built not just on concrete and steel, but on conversations in crowded terminals and trust earned one question at a time.

Travelers departing from the new Terminal E at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are now greeted by more than ticket counters and signage. They’re stepping into a dynamic visual experience—a curated trio of public artworks commissioned by Houston Airports that bring bold color, thoughtful geometry and cultural resonance to the heart of international travel.The newly installed pieces, Unexpected Spaces by Marta Chilindron, Continuous Motion by Graciela Hasper and Horizons Spectrum by Vargas-Suarez Universal, are more than decorative. Each work transforms the architecture of the space and elevates the traveler’s journey, offering a moment of reflection, delight or curiosity in a place typically defined by movement.“These artists are shaping the emotional and visual landscape of how people experience Houston,” said Alton DuLaney, chief curator of cultural affairs for the City of Houston. “We’re proud to present the World’s Best Airport Art program, and these new commissions reflect that honor.”Unexpected Spaces, by Uruguay-born artist Marta Chilindron, is a series of suspended glass forms that represent sunlight, foliage and water. Floating above the vestibules that lead to the departures lobby, the translucent geometry filters light into color and turns the act of entering the terminal into a vibrant, meditative moment.The installation draws on Houston’s natural beauty while creating a quiet, harmonious dialogue between the exterior and interior of the building.Nearby, Buenos Aires-based artist Graciela Hasper adds momentum with her mural Continuous Motion. Made from 322 painted metal elements arranged in rhythmic geometry, the mural captures the pulse of a city—and an airport—constantly in motion. Her use of 75 distinct colors and overlapping shapes evokes the diversity and interconnectedness of Houston’s global identity.Finally, Horizons Spectrum, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, pays homage to Houston’s aerospace legacy with a layered installation of powder-coated aluminum panels and etched airplanes. Raised in the Houston community of Clear Lake, near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the artist incorporates design elements like the IAH baggage tag barcode and transforms aviation data into art. The result is a visual narrative about precision, energy and the infrastructure of global flight.The three works embody what makes Houston’s public art program exceptional: bold vision, meaningful storytelling and a sense of place. For three consecutive years, Skytrax has honored Houston Airports with the title of World’s Best Airport Art.“Art has the power to connect us all,” said DuLaney. “In a space like our new international terminal—where people from all over the world are coming and going—these works remind us of what Houston stands for: innovation, creativity and a warm welcome.”