The George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located on the North side of Houston near Humble and the Greenspointe area. The airport is nestled in a heavily wooded area that feels more like the country than the city and sits on more than ten thousand acres of land. Over forty million passengers fly to and from the airport every year which makes it the eighth busiest airport in the United States.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport officially joined the Houston Airport System in June 1969 and was a branch of the first Houston airport, William P. Hobby. The original name of the airport was Houston Intercontinental Airport but was named after the 41st President, George H. W. Bush in the year 1997. The airport is operated by the City of Houston's Department of Aviation.
The airport offers a large variety of amenities to its passengers such as Wi-Fi internet, small restaurants, stores, news stands, gift shops, ample parking, visitor information centers and a currency exchange booth. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is divided into five terminals; Terminals A, B, C, D, and E. Each terminal offers a variety of establishments. Some of the typical establishments that can be found at almost all of terminals are places like McDonalds, Pizzeria Uno, and Starbucks.
International passengers are also nicely accommodated by George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Passengers who are flying out or into the country can exchange currencies between 74 foreign countries in the airport between 7:30A.M. and 9:00PM. Many of the international flights take place in Terminals D and E. The international travel terminal at the airport is a $440 million dollar facility that has three levels to streamline the customs and immigration process. The special international facility was designed to reduce the amount of stress on international travelers and make the process of entering or exiting the country as simple as possible.
Although George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the eighth busiest in the United States, travelers who fly in and out of the airport find that on most occasions the airport runs smoothly. There is little congestion that requires hours of preparation for getting past security and to the appropriate departure gate. With the exception of holidays, the security lines are usually minimal and lines run smoothly and quickly. Parking is also convenient. There are over 25,000 parking spaces available at the airport and the rates for parking are some of the lowest in the country. An hour of parking at the airport cost one dollar and each day carries a maximum fee of $15.00.
The state of Texas has one of the largest Mexican-American populations in the United States and George Bush Intercontinental Airport caters to the demographic by offering flights to more Mexican destinations than any other airport in the country. As of 2009, George Bush Intercontinental Airport offered over 31 destination flights to different parts of Mexico.
For travelers who are stranded due to delayed or canceled flights; the airport provides a Marriott Hotel on the premises. The Marriott provides an elegant experience for discerning travelers who need to rejuvenate and rest.
