Welcome toGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport

Stephen Heady did not arrive at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) as a Houston Airports Volunteer Ambassador by chance. The moment had been building for more than 20 years.Heady joined the airport system’s volunteer program in August 2025, shortly after retiring from a career in public education. A former principal at Avalos Pathways in Technology Early College High School, he arrived with a deep belief in service and a vivid memory of what a single act of kindness can mean to a stranded traveler.“In the summer of 2002, I had booked an international flight to Asia,” Heady recalled. “I was an inexperienced traveler and did not own a cell phone.”His first flight from Houston to an airport on the East Coast was delayed due to a ground stop. When he landed, Heady missed his evening connection for the international leg of his trip. The airline was unable to rebook him for a flight the next day.“I found myself walking around the lobby of the airport very bewildered and uncertain of what to do,” he said.That’s when he noticed an airport volunteer seated at an information booth.“With no one else to talk to, I explained my dilemma to her,” Heady said.The volunteer listened and offered practical guidance. She suggested returning to the ticket counter and asking the airline to rebook him on a flight departing the next day from a nearby airport, where flights on that carrier were typically less full. When Heady asked how he would get there, she pointed him to a shuttle service that connected the two airports.“The following day, everything worked perfectly as planned,” Heady said. “Without the help of the volunteer, I do not know what the outcome of the situation would have been.”That interaction stayed with him for more than two decades.“That experience had a huge impact on me, which I have never forgotten,” Heady said. “It inspired me to want to be an airport volunteer when my schedule allowed it. Without the knowledge and kindness that the volunteer shared with me, I would have remained confused and missed the vacation I had planned.”Now, at IAH, Heady has become the volunteer he once needed.“It is very rewarding to serve as a volunteer and be able to assist passengers at Bush Airport,” he said. “Assisting passengers to make connections, whether it be on planes, meeting family or retrieving baggage, is rewarding because I know I am making their experience easier.”For Houston Airports, that quiet, human moment is exactly the point.“Stephen is a true champion of customer care and a dedicated ambassador,” said Ella Ghica, manager of volunteer programs for Houston Airports. “He is always smiling, always welcoming and truly embodies Houston-friendly hospitality. Volunteer ambassadors like Stephen play a vital role in shaping the passenger experience in ways travelers often never see.”Volunteer Ambassadors are stationed throughout the terminals, helping passengers navigate connections, answer questions and find their way, especially during moments of stress or uncertainty.“My experience serving as a Houston Airports Volunteer Ambassador has truly allowed me the opportunity to pay forward the kindness and assistance that a volunteer at another airport showed me over 20 years ago,” Heady said.That philosophy aligns with the broader mission of Houston Airports: connecting the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston while delivering a world-class, organized and functional environment where passengers feel welcome.At Bush Intercontinental Airport, Stephen Heady now sits where another volunteer once sat for him. Most travelers will never know the path that led him there. They will only know that, in a moment of uncertainty, someone was there to help.Get Involved | Houston Airports is always looking for friendly faces ready to help travelers feel confident and cared for. To learn more about becoming a Volunteer Ambassador at IAH or William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), click here.

Passengers moving through Terminal A at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) now have a fresh new option to fuel their journey.Jamba has opened a new location near Gate A25, just after the TSA checkpoint, sharing a space with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The dual concept sits along a well-traveled path toward the Terminal A Connector Hall and the Skyway, making it an easy stop for travelers heading deeper into the terminal.Known for smoothies, bowls and blended beverages, Jamba adds a healthy, flexible choice for passengers of all ages. The menu features fruit-forward smoothies, protein-packed blends, acai and oatmeal bowls and lighter options designed for travelers looking to stay energized on the go. At the same time, the neighboring Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers classic treats for those craving something sweet.Together, the two brands bring balance and variety to Terminal A, giving passengers the freedom to choose what fits their trip, their schedule and their taste.Jamba is open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Houston doesn’t see many freezes, but when it does, the airports feel it first.Outside, temperatures had dropped below freezing — an uncommon stress test for a region built for heat, humidity and hurricanes. Inside, travelers rolled suitcases, paused at information desks and adjusted plans in real time. Houston Airports employees in bright orange jackets were already in place, answering questions and pointing the way forward.That steadiness did not happen by accident.Nearly a week earlier, as forecasts began to harden, Houston Airports leadership initiated preparations that most passengers would never see. Equipment was rehearsed. Plants and pipes were protected. Staffing plans were adjusted. Employees were given time to secure their homes and families before reporting for extended shifts.“What stands out most is how steady our people were,” said Kelly Woodward, chief operating officer for Houston Airports. “Clear communication, teamwork and a focus on service carried us through long shifts and cold nights.”Across George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport, employees moved into 12-hour rotations. Some slept at the airport so operations could continue without interruption. Emergency Operations Centers were activated at Bush and Hobby. Facilities stayed clean, accessible and safe. Passenger flights continued. Cargo kept moving. Systems held.“This is what being ready to fly looks like,” said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. “Preparation, discipline and people who know their jobs. Our teams followed the checklist and made decisions early, when it still mattered.”Much of that work unfolded outdoors.Airfield and maintenance crews treated bridges, overpasses and pavement in freezing conditions that leave little room for error. Inside terminals, operations teams coordinated continuously with airlines, federal partners and the City of Houston.“Our employees were everywhere passengers needed them,” Woodward said. “Answering questions. Giving directions. Assisting travelers with disabilities. Keeping facilities safe and clean. That level of care doesn’t stop when conditions get hard.”At Hobby Airport, a customer service representative stood near an information desk, radio clipped at their side, scanning the terminal for the next traveler who might need help. Nearby, another leaned in to explain rebooking options to a family whose flight had changed overnight.Those quiet, practical moments — what Houston Airports calls Houston Friendly — repeated themselves hundreds of times across the system.They were shaped by hard-earned experience.After Winter Storm Uri exposed deep vulnerabilities across Texas in 2021, Houston Airports took a critical look at its cold-weather readiness. That review led to a significant investment in specialized deicing and snow-removal equipment, acquired in 2023 and maintained on site at Bush and Hobby by Top Dog Services.The payoff came quickly.In January 2025, another round of extreme cold tested the region. Houston Airports activated early planning protocols, coordinated across agencies and maintained operations while much of the area braced for disruption. The systems held because they were already in place.This winter, coordination extended beyond airport property. METRO adjusted service as conditions worsened. Airlines issued weather waivers and rebooked passengers. Travelers were urged to slow down, allow extra time and stay in close contact with their carriers.Many did.City leaders and the traveling public largely heeded those warnings, easing pressure on roadways and terminals during the most challenging hours. That shared restraint allowed airport teams to focus on what they could control — safety, communication and continuity.Another cold snap may still be ahead.Houston Airports is not waiting for it to arrive. In a city where winter storms are rare and expectations are high, readiness is no longer a reaction. It’s a discipline — practiced early, reinforced often and carried out by people who understand what it means to keep a major Southern hub flying when the forecast turns unforgiving.