For the third year in a row, Houston airports have proven that they are some of the best in the word. The London-based airport consultancy and review service Skytrax awarded Houston airports several honors recently, including their third win in a row for airport art as well as a 5-star rating for William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

“This recognition is meaningful,” said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. “But awards aren’t the goal — passenger experience is. We’re focused on tackling traffic, streamlining parking, renovating restrooms, and making infrastructure improvements that people can feel. Our 1,300 City of Houston employees are committed to delivering a world-class experience every day.”

Houston airports continuing to dominate the Best Airport Art category isn't surprising. Ever since former mayor and city council member Annise Parker spearheaded an initiative to dedicating city funds to beautifying public spaces in 1999, Houston airports have especially become venues for impressive art. Under the guidance of Alton DuLaney, curator of public art for Houston Airports, both HOU and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) have added scultipres by David Adickes, art cars celebrating famous musicians, a massive glass flower installation by Dale Chihuly, and dozens of other works from Texas and around the world.

“At Houston Airports, we don’t just showcase art — we create cultural moments,” said DuLaney. “Every piece, every performance, every interaction is designed to surprise and resonate with travelers. It’s a reflection of Houston’s artistic spirit — and it’s making waves around the world.”

Hobby is the only airport in the United States to get a full five-star rating from Skytrax, which cited the airport's efficient processing, decor, access to public transportation, child-friendly areas, and extensive dining as reasons for the accolades. Other airports in the United States such as Newark Liberty and LaGuardia also rank five stars for individual terminals, but only HOU made the list across the board. Partial credit goes to the $470 million West Concourse expansion and new TSA check-in terminals, all of which have vastly reduced wait times and traffic at the airport.

IAH also did well, earning a four-star rank. A large factor was the incredible traffic reduction efforts that opened in 2024. After opening new lanes, the airport had only two minutes of heavy traffic congestion across the entire 2024 holiday season despite record numbers of travelers, a 99 percent drop.

Skytrax began independently reviewing airports in 2016, offering rankings that have become the gold standard in international travel. These rankings coincided with major pushes in Houston airports to upgrade, update, and improve overall traveler experiences, leading to some of the most well-regarded airports in the world. The pressure to be so mounts as Houston becomes a major gateway to Latin and South America thanks to new routes.