Houston William P Hobby Airport; Information, History, Parking, Hotels, Airline phone numbers

Houston Hobby Airport

Official name: "William P. Hobby Airport"

Friday
September 03, 2010

 


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William P. Hobby Airport is Houston's second busiest airport,
after
Bush Intercontinental Airport.

LOCATION

South-East side of Houston, seven miles from downtown, and just west of the Gulf Freeway (Hwy I-45).

HISTORY

In 1937, the city of Houston purchased an already existing private airport at this site, and renamed it Houston Municipal Airport. To honor a major benefactor and user of the airport, it was renamed Howard Hughes Airport 1938. The name was soon changed back to HMA, after the federal government informed Houston that no federal funds would be granted to any facility named after a living person.

During the 1940's major improvements were made to the runways and buildings at the airport. It stayed busy during World War II, and by the end of that decade there were four airlines providing regular service from HMA.

The 50's were a time of major change all across the USA, and airport construction boomed. National and international flights became commonplace, and infrastructure was needed to support the growing popularity of air travel. The current main terminal was constructed, old runways improved, and new runways added, to facilitate landing the new jet aircraft. A number of private hangers and aviation facilities were also constructed, mostly along the west side of the airport.

The current name was given to the airport in 1967, in honor of ex-governor William P. Hobby. Mr. Hobby was also the owner of the Houston Post newspaper.

In 1969, the first sections of the new Intercontinental Airport (IAH) were completed, and scheduled passenger traffic was all relocated to the new airport. Hobby Airport continued to serve private aviation as a "general aviation airport". Activity included corporate flights, flight training, & air-cargo operations.

In 1971, Southwest Airlines reinstituted scheduled passenger traffic to Hobby airport. As IAH has become steadily more crowded, other airlines have also setup operations at Hobby. There are currently 12 commercial airlines serving Hobby with domestic flights.

A native Houstonian, the author has a lifetime of great memories about flying in & out of Houston Hobby Airport.


 

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