William P. Hobby Airport (KHOU) is the older of Houston's two major airports, sitting 7 miles southeast of downtown — far closer than KIAH (which is 23 miles north). KHOU handles a substantial volume of commercial service (Southwest is the dominant carrier) alongside a thriving general aviation and charter community. For Houston corporate and energy-sector flight departments, KHOU is often the default — ground access to the Galleria, downtown, the Medical Center, and the corporate clusters in the energy corridor is dramatically better than from KIAH.
The primary runway 4/22 is 7,602 feet, and runway 12R/30L is 7,602 feet as well — both comfortably accommodating heavy and ultra-long-range business jets on normal departures. Atlantic Aviation, Signature, and Million Air share FBO duties with strong hangar inventories and based fractional fleets. Field elevation is 46 feet, so density altitude isn't a factor; the dominant operational considerations are Gulf Coast weather (afternoon thunderstorms April through October, occasional tropical systems August through October) and the volume of corporate traffic during the offshore-energy work rhythm. Ground time to downtown is 15–20 minutes outside rush hour; the Galleria and Tanglewood are 25–35 minutes.
Frequently asked questions about William P Hobby Airport
What is KHOU airport?+
KHOU is the ICAO code for William P Hobby Airport (IATA HOU), located in Houston, TX.
What does HOU stand for?+
HOU is the IATA code for William P Hobby Airport (ICAO KHOU) in Houston, TX.
Where is William P Hobby Airport?+
William P Hobby Airport is located in Houston, TX.
Does William P Hobby Airport have commercial airline service?+
Yes — William P Hobby Airport is served by scheduled airlines in addition to private aviation traffic.
How long is the runway at William P Hobby Airport?+
The longest runway at William P Hobby Airport measures 7,602 ft (2,317 m).
What is the elevation of William P Hobby Airport?+
William P Hobby Airport sits at 46 ft above sea level.
What timezone is William P Hobby Airport in?+
William P Hobby Airport operates on America/Chicago.
How many private-jet empty legs are available at William P Hobby Airport?+
SkyAccess currently tracks 39 departing and 46 arriving private-jet empty legs at William P Hobby Airport over the next six months. Browse and book each leg with a free account.