Houston airports 2013 record year in passenger traffic

HOUSTON – Passenger traffic has risen to record-setting levels in two key areas for the Houston Airport System. Overall passenger traffic reached an all-time high at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and international traffic at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) reached levels never before seen in its 45-year history.

The combined passenger totals from both airport facilities is up 1.2 percent over 2012 — from 50.3 million passengers to 50.9 million passengers in 2013.

The record-setting passenger total recorded at Hobby Airport in 2013 represents the fourth consecutive year that a new passenger record has been set.

Passenger traffic increased by 6.4 percent — from 10.4 million in 2012 to 11.1 million in 2013. Demand for travel from Hobby Airport is growing at a steady pace and has increased 34 percent in ten years —an increase of almost 3 million passengers since 2004.

New passenger records were also set at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, where growth in international passenger totals from 2013 fell just short of the 9 million mark. The 8.9 million international passengers from last year represented an increase of 2.5 percent — up from 8.7 million passengers in 2012.

The increase in international travel can be attributed to a number of factors, one of which is the arrival of new international air carriers. Air China and Turkish Airlines both launched nonstop service in Houston in 2013, flying to Beijing and Istanbul respectively. Air China recently expanded their Beijing route, moving from four flights per week to daily service.