William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) was Houston’s original commercial airport and today serves as Southwest Airlines’ home base, sitting about 11 miles southeast of downtown, noticeably closer in than IAH.
Smaller and Often Faster
With a single main terminal, Hobby is generally quicker to move through than IAH’s five-terminal layout, which many Houston-area travelers prefer for a straightforward domestic trip.
Not Just Domestic Anymore
Hobby added a dedicated international terminal with federal inspection facilities in 2015, and now handles a growing number of Southwest routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America alongside its core domestic schedule.
Getting Downtown
Hobby’s closer-in location means a shorter, cheaper taxi or rideshare trip to downtown than from IAH, typically 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
HOU vs. IAH
Choose Hobby if Southwest serves your route or you’re headed somewhere in Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America it flies to directly. Choose IAH for United’s wider international network or long-haul international connections.
Search live fares into HOU above.