talking turkey day travel

Houston airports predict 159 percent surge for Thanksgiving travel

George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston

Expect a mass of Thanksgiving travelers — as well as delays.

Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

Arguably the biggest travel day of the year is upon Houston and the city’s two airports are preparing for the surge and preparing vacationers.

According to a new announcement from Houston Airports, George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) will see more than 1.9 million passengers during the 13-day Thanksgiving travel period.

By the numbers, this influx represents a 159 percent increase from the same period in 2020, and a -15 percent difference from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2019.

Specifically, Bush is expected to host approximately 1.4 million passengers, while Hobby will see more than 500,000 voyagers, all starting the Thursday before Thanksgiving to the Tuesday after the holiday.

Importantly for Bush travelers, the airport’s Terminal E will make way for the new International Terminal, which includes the demolition of the Terminal D/E garage. With that, the travelers should expect massive traffic congestion, especially during peak travel times.

The ongoing construction at IAH will cause delays; travelers should add an extra hour to arrival time to comfortably reach their gate. Drivers are advised to use the cell phone lots to wait for those arriving, as opposed to curbside.

Parking reservations are highly recommended ahead of time to secure a coveted space. Or, pre-book, adjust, or make valet reservations at fly2houston.com.

Finally, travelers can monitor TSA checkpoint wait times in real-time. Find Hobby Airport wait times here and Bush Airport’s here.

vacation city-news-roundup holidays

only the best in HOU

Houston's IAH soars as 4th best airport for holiday travel in 2024

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Facebook

Houstonians are in safe hands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston's punctual and award-winning George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has just been rated the fourth best airport in the country for the upcoming holiday travel season, so says a new report by travel experts Locals Insider.

The study examined the percentage of on-time departure flights at 50 of the biggest airports in America to discover the 10 best and worst airports for traveling during the holidays. Departure statistics and reasons for delays were analyzed from November 17, 2023 to January 3, 2024.

According to the report's findings, IAH had an on-time departure rate of 85.8 percent during the 2023 holiday period. That means out of the 13,921 total scheduled flights departing from the airport, only 1,976 flights were delayed. That's a pretty good track record.

IAH has been working hard to deliver the best travel experiences for its passengers, including opening its new Terminal D, investing in much-needed bathroom upgrades, showing off its award-winning art and entertainment program, and providing top notch dining experiences.

Though IAH appeared on Locals Insider's top 10 best list, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) descended onto the travel guide's 10 worst U.S. airports for holiday travel this year.

Appearing at No. 8, HOU isn't the worst offender on the list, but its holiday season delay and cancellation rate in 2023 was 22 percent.

"Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions," the report's author wrote. "Overall, more than one in five (22 percent) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays."

The study's data found 1,178 holiday flights at HOU were cancelled in 2023, and only 19 were delayed.

Ranking as the No. 1 best airport for holiday travel is Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which had an 88.6 percent on-time departure rate.

For Houstonians that will be traveling this holiday season, Locals Insider recommended five best-practice tips for a smooth travel experience: Book an early morning flight as those are less prone to delays (additionally, book a direct flight), apply for TSA PreCheck to avoid long screening processes, and budget more time to arrive early to the airport.

The report also suggests packing light and shipping gifts to their intended destination ahead of time.

"Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on," the report said.

The top 10 best U.S. airports for holiday travel in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International
No. 2 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International
No. 3 – Salt Lake City International
No. 4 – George Bush Intercontinental
No. 5 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 6 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
No. 7 – Newark Liberty International
No. 8 – Detroit Metro Wayne County
No. 9 – Chicago O'Hare International
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from November 17-28, and the winter holiday travel period from December 14 through January 3, 2024. The study included data from both holiday travel periods, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airline Service Quality Performance System (ASQP).