Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

One of the longest and most heavily used runways at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will soon undergo a carefully planned upgrade designed to strengthen safety and extend the life of critical airport infrastructure.Houston Airports has temporarily closed Runway 9/27 — a 10,000-foot runway made up of approximately 1.5 million square feet of concrete — for a 90-day resurfacing and lighting improvement project.Rather than repaving the runway, crews will grind approximately one-half inch off the existing concrete surface, retexture it and then regroove the runway. The process restores friction and drainage performance, helping aircraft maintain better traction during landings and takeoffs, particularly in wet conditions.The project also includes installing 380 new LED runway lights, improving visibility for pilots while supporting the airport system’s sustainability goals.This work strengthens one of the most important pieces of infrastructure at Bush Airport. Runways take an incredible amount of daily stress from large, multi-ton commercial aircraft. By resurfacing and retexturing the concrete, Houston Airports restores the friction pilots rely on and extend the life of the runway for years to come.The project is funded in part through a Federal Aviation Administration grant, reflecting continued federal investment in aviation safety and infrastructure across the United States.While Runway 9/27 is temporarily closed, IAH will continue operating with four active runways, ensuring safe and efficient flight operations during the rehabilitation project.

Before a guide dog ever boards a commercial flight with a passenger who is blind, it must learn to navigate one of the most complex environments in modern travel: the airport.On a Saturday in February, Houston Airports hosted an airport familiarization training tour at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for the Houston chapter of Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). The purpose was straightforward: to expose puppies in training and their handlers to the real conditions they will encounter on travel day.That meant more than walking a quiet corridor.The group rode IAH shuttle buses, processed through a TSA security checkpoint, traveled on the Skyway and visited Service Animal Relief Areas (SARA). Puppies rode ecopark shuttle buses and practiced boarding and exiting alongside passengers. They processed through a TSA checkpoint. They moved through ticketing counters at American Airlines while trainers reviewed required federal service animal documentation and airline procedures. They traveled the Skyway between terminals and visited multiple Service Animal Relief Areas, including the new outdoor SARA at Terminal E.Airports are layered environments — moving walkways, shuttle buses, security lanes, loudspeaker announcements and unpredictable crowds. Controlled exposure builds confidence and focus before a dog is paired with a person who depends on it for mobility and independence.The training is also instructive for the airport.Guide dog trainers gain insight into airport operations. Airport teams gain perspective on how checkpoint procedures, signage, ground transportation and terminal design affect travelers who rely on service animals.“Familiarization tours like this give us real-time feedback,” said Anthony Brown, ADA coordinator for Houston Airports. “We’re able to observe how service animals respond to the airport environment and identify opportunities to improve the experience for travelers with disabilities. That collaboration strengthens our ADA program and makes us better prepared on travel day.”From curb to gate, the effort reflects a broader operational priority: accessibility at scale.As the largest guide dog school in North America, Guide Dogs for the Blind has graduated more than 16,000 guide dog teams across the U.S. and Canada since 1942. All services are provided free of charge, including personalized training and ongoing support, funded entirely through donors and volunteers.

On any given day at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), a traveler’s first conversation in Houston happens before baggage claim with a smiling airport volunteer in a bright orange polo.On March 3, that exchange carries more weight. The date marks 100 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11. For Houston Airports, the countdown is logistical.More than 70 Volunteer Ambassadors who serve at IAH and HOU just completed the Houston First Corporation’s Houston Insider training in downtown Houston. Inside a conference room overlooking Discovery Green, volunteers walked through tournament schedules, transportation routes, cultural districts and the kinds of questions international visitors are likely to ask between matches.- How do I get to NRG Stadium from the airport?- What neighborhood should I explore before tomorrow’s game?- Is there a train downtown? The objective is straightforward: ensure ambassadors can answer more than “Where is baggage claim?”“We know our volunteers are often the first friendly face a visitor sees when they step off a plane,” said Ella Ghica, program manager of volunteer programs for Houston Airports. “By participating in Houston Insider training, they are not just offering directions to a gate. They are sharing the story of Houston. As we prepare to welcome the world for the World Cup, we want every ambassador to feel confident answering questions about our city’s culture, neighborhoods and signature experiences.”The training is one layer of a broader airport strategy tied directly to tournament traffic.Houston will host seven matches, compressing arrival and departure windows as fans fly in for a game and depart within 24 to 48 hours. Houston Airports is coordinating with regional transportation partners, reviewing curbside circulation plans and adjusting staffing to manage concentrated passenger banks tied to match schedules. Recent infrastructure investments were built for moments like this.At IAH, the Terminal D-West Concourse expanded international gate capacity and introduced upgraded seating, lighting and passenger amenities built for high-volume global travel. The new Terminal E Ticketing Lobby and Arrivals Hall improved circulation from curb to check-in, separating ticketing and international arrivals functions to reduce bottlenecks. At HOU, phased restroom renovations, enhanced wayfinding and terminal flow improvements strengthen its ability to handle peak demand without sacrificing service standards.Technology upgrades are also part of the preparation. Expanded Wi-Fi capability, interactive kiosks that mirror the Fly2Houston.com experience and an improved parking reservation system are designed to move passengers efficiently from curb to gate. Multilingual customer service support has been reinforced across terminals to accommodate a diverse international audience.Andrew Czobor, director of customer experience programs for Houston Airports, said volunteer training aligns with that operational groundwork.“The World Cup is not just a sporting event. It is a global stage,” Czobor said. “We are preparing our facilities, our signage, our technology and our people. Our Volunteer Ambassadors play a critical role in delivering Houston-friendly hospitality in a world-class, organized and functional environment. This training ensures they can confidently connect passengers to everything our city has to offer.”For passengers, the difference may feel subtle: clearer signage, smoother curbside flow, a volunteer who can explain METRO connections or recommend a museum before kickoff.For Houston Airports, it reflects its core purpose — to connect the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston. In less than 100 days, the matches begin. Houston Airports is ready to welcome the world.