attention, passengers

Houston airports set massive, all time passenger record in 2023

George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston

46.1 million total passengers traveled through Bush IAH last year.

Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

If those lines at the airport seemed even longer than normal this past year, there's good reason. Houston's two airports set an all-time record in 2023, Houston Airports just announced.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) combined saw a record 60.1 million passengers in last year, according to air service data. The last time the Houston Airports system set a passenger record was 2019, when the airport system welcomed 59.7 million passengers. The COVID pandemic shut the airports down in 2020.

In 2023, Houston Airports welcomed a whopping 6 million more passengers than it did in 2022, according to service data. Less dramatic but still impressive, the two airports welcomed nearly 370,000 more passengers than in 2019.

By the numbers in 2023, Houston Airports saw:

46.1 million total passengers at Bush.
14 million total passengers at Hobby.
47.6 million total domestic passengers at Bush and Hobby.
12.5 million total international passengers at Bush and Hobby.

Both airports also saw major growth in national travelers. Houston Aiprorts reports the following international market stats:

2.5 million passengers connected to Mexico, up 27 percent from 2019.
74,483 passengers connected to Australia/New Zealand, up 24 percent from 2019.
232,811 passengers connected to the Middle East, up 7 percent from 2019.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the record-setting passenger total at Houston Airports in 2023 and we thank each and every passenger for choosing our airports as part of their flight plans,” said Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. “Houston Airports is committed to connecting the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston, while serving as a 5-Star air service gateway to the region. As we continue to grow and enhance our airport’s infrastructure, we are committed to ensuring our passengers have the best possible experience from curb to gate. This accomplishment is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our team and the strong support from the community."

suburb news

Bustling Houston suburb declared one of America's 10 newest boomtowns

Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

Conroe is a really desirable place to live for renters.

What do you get when you combine a city's surge in population, housing growth, and economy? For a place like Conroe, it all adds up to being named America's No. 9 newest boomtown, according to a new survey from SmartAsset.

The personal finance website's just-released report analyzed more than 400 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more to identify places experiencing rapid growth based on five-year changes in economic output, housing units, and labor force size.

Texas is home to the second-highest concentration of new boomtowns in America with 18 out of 75 located in the Lone Star State. Only Florida ranks higher than Texas by just one.

However, Texas nearly locked out the top five most bustling boomtowns in America. Austin suburb Georgetown topped the list, and its Central Texas neighbors New Braunfels (No. 2) and Leander (No. 4) ranked close behind. Dallas-Fort Worth mid-city Lewisville claimed the No. 5 spot. Lehi, Utah ranked in third place.

Conroe has soared in popularity as one of America's most sought-after suburbs over the last several years, boosted by its renter-friendliness and its livability among the millennial generation.

Conroe has seen a 37 percent increase in housing units from 2019 to 2024, with its labor force growing by 33 percent during that time. SmartAsset also determined that Montgomery County's economic output grew at compound annual rates of 4.9 percent.

The report says population booms and "expanding business activity" can create "visible momentum" for an up-and-coming city, but these fast changes can alter a city in ways residents may not expect.

"In recent years, some American cities stand out for attracting people, investment and development at a pace that sets them apart," the report said. "Boomtown status does not mean growth benefits everyone equally, but it does reflect a city’s expanding economic capacity and the new opportunities that come with it."

America's top 10 new boomtowns are:

No. 1 – Georgetown
No. 2 – New Braunfels
No. 3 – Lehi, Utah
No. 4 – Leander
No. 5 – Lewisville
No. 6 – Palm Coast, Florida
No. 7 – Nampa, Idaho
No. 8 – McKinney
No. 9 – Conroe
No. 10 – Frisco

boomtown smartasset reports conroe