Airports in Texas

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is located five miles (8km) southeast of the Central Business District of Austin, Texas.

The bright and breezy facility embodies Austin’s laid-back nature, from the architecture – clean, open and full of natural light – to the local, friendly atmosphere. Visitors are often surprised by the live music stage, which showcases Austin’s diverse music scene, in the middle of the terminal. There are often up to a dozen performances per week as part of the Music in the Air initiative.

The small size of the airport makes it very easy to navigate and visitors are always pleased to find the airport spotless and well-manned with friendly, approachable staff, making flights from and to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport a pleasure. With the amount on offer here, you barely need to leave the airport to get the full Austin experience.

Set on 7,100 acres of land in sunny Texas, El Paso International Airport (ELP) is a small, regional airport that sees three million visitors each year. At 3.7 miles (6km) from downtown El Paso and 12 miles (19km) north of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the airport functions as a major gateway between the two countries.

The airport is functional and sees a lot of fairly localized travel, so don't expect too much by way of duty free shopping or international cuisine. The central terminal is small and logically laid out, with a decent mix of coffee shops and fast food joints to see you through.

El Paso itself is a large border community that sees much trade and commerce, so there are many flights to El Paso International Airport from cities around the US. The airport has a huge cargo section and is surrounded by several industrial parks.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and dining and shopping options in this airport are no exception. With more than 50 retail and food options throughout the five terminals, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston has plenty to keep travelers busy.

The downside of this huge airport is that it can be very confusing for those passing through for the first time, and as a result of its size a fair amount of time needs to be allocated for getting to your gate – this can be a bit stressful if you have a tight connection. While quite efficient and not known for long delays, the airport maintains an almost cheesy 1970s facade – perhaps in line with the Dallas theme?

Flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport are available from many major cities, including London, Amsterdam, Paris, Chicago, Toronto, Mexico City, Washington DC, Sao Paulo, Atlanta, Tokyo, and Moscow.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) serves an average of 8 million passengers per year and is located approximately 8 miles (13km) from downtown San Antonio, Texas. Flights to San Antonio International Airport come from a number of destinations, including Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Newark, Memphis, New York, Denver, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Charlotte, Baltimore, Denver, Orlando, Mexico City, Cancun, and Monterrey.

Recent building work has improved the handling capacity of the airport, as well as its accessibility. In 2010, Terminal 2 was closed and the newly built Terminal B was opened; the old terminal was then aptly named Terminal A and Terminal 2 was demolished in early 2011. A third terminal, Terminal C, is to be built by 2015. Furthermore, the construction of major roads – Interstate 410 and U.S. Highway 281 – has significantly improved transport flow and driving time to and from San Antonio International.    

Although fairly limited in terms of shopping and dining options, amenities are sufficient and service is warm and friendly, much like the charming city of San Antonio.

William P Hobby Airport (HOU) is just seven miles (11km) from downtown Houston and is affectionately known as Hobby Airport. It’s a great airport to use for passengers wanting to avoid the hustle and bustle of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which also serves the Houston area. However, this smaller airport, named after a former Texas governor, is growing quickly and currently serves more than 8 million passengers each year.

As George Bush Intercontinental Airport handles all the international flights coming into Houston, most of the flights to William P Hobby Airport are domestic. Many well-known US carriers operate flights to Hobby Airport and some of the most popular routes connect it with Atlanta, LA, New York and Austin.

Hobby Airport’s small size confers certain advantages. Often the security process seems quicker and the service offered more personal. Hobby Airport has a number of shopping opportunities and a few dining options, but there isn’t a great deal of choice at the airport. Some passengers may find this refreshing, as they are not bombarded by advertising and exhortations to buy constantly.