Houston Airports is ready to welcome nearly 3.4 million passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) during the winter holiday travel period from Dec. 18 through Jan. 5 — one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
2025 Winter holiday projections
IAH: Nearly 2.6 million passengers
HOU: 775,000 passengers
Holiday travel will peak Saturday, Dec. 20, for departures and Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, for arrivals.
Houston Airports has prepared for the surge with improved traffic flow, an updated online parking reservation system, new concessions and expanded Wi-Fi and cellular service for rideshare customers. New screening technology is also expediting TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing at IAH during the busy travel period.
The holiday crowds arrive as Houston expands its international reach. Three new nonstop routes by Frontier Airlines to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras begin between Dec. 18 and Dec. 20, strengthening Houston’s connectivity ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Passengers may also notice World Cup-themed foosball tables now available to play for free in IAH Terminals D and E and in the Central Concourse at HOU.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR PASSENGERS
Reserve parking online at Fly2Houston.com/parking at least 12 hours in advance to guarantee a space.
Picking someone up? Use cell phone lots to avoid circling the curb.
