Houston Airports is preparing for a record-breaking holiday travel season, expecting 3.4 million passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport from Dec. 19 to Jan. 6 — a 7% increase from last year.

The lines are long, the parking spaces are limited and the highways are jammed up. Thanksgiving travel season has arrived.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your suitcase after you drop it off at the check-in counter at the airport?

Reporter Gage Goulding gets exclusive behind-the-scenes access to see how TSA ensures luggage is safe to load onto an aircraft

Having two major airports in Houston is both a blessing and a curse for some travelers.

Packing for your next trip? Ensure a smooth journey by knowing what to pack in your carry-on versus your checked luggage.

For those looking to travel for Thanksgiving next week, it might be better to get all of your online errands taken care of before heading to the airports in Houston.

Ever wondered what comes through one of the busiest airports in the country?

A Mexico-bound flight that took off from Houston was forced to return for a rather unusual reason - volcanic ash.

What you should know about the terminal upgrades before you're council member makes their vote.

The 160,000-square-foot expansion adds six new gates and state-of-the-art amenities, all part of a $1.458 billion redevelopment aimed at making Houston a global leader in international travel.

Jack Lorey orchestrated a memorable marriage proposal for his girlfriend, Erica Bonilla, at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport with the assistance of United Airlines.

Travelers to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) should expect delays from Sept. 16 to Sept. 27 due to concrete repairs on Will Clayton Parkway.

Here is when to leave if you are hitting the roads for Labor Day weekend

The recent strike approval by United Airlines flight attendants have many travelers asking if this will have a significant impact on flights.

A Frontier Airlines crew member was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, leading to the cancellation of Flight 3195 to Dallas Fort Worth.

A ground stop due to thunderstorms has been issued at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from 1:14 to 2:30 p.m.

A man was killed following an argument at the Pinewood Apartments on Greens Road in northeast Houston on Saturday night.

Houston’s airports are on pace for a year that will go down in the record books.

A ground stop has been issued at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport Wednesday afternoon due to severe thunderstorms in the Houston area.

Federal investigators say Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, known as one of the original “Twelve Apostles of the Devil,” was apprehended in Houston after three years on the run.

Federal authorities tell KPRC 2 Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, known as one of the original “Twelve Apostles of the Devil,” was apprehended; delivering a significant blow to the infamous crime syndicate.

According to Houston firefighters, at least 25 people on the flight reported feeling sick due to a cruise they were on.

Have you booked your summer flights? It may not be too late to get a good deal!

A ground stop has been issued at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Tuesday afternoon due to severe thunderstorms in the Houston area.

On Friday morning, a AAA travel expert will be LIVE with us with last-minute travel advice and reminders. Do you have travel-related questions? Send them our way and we’ll get answers!

Flight delays have been reported at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston William P. Hobby Airport on Thursday afternoon and evening due to severe thunderstorms in the Houston area.

Severe weather impacting Houston area flights.

As investigations into U.S. plane manufacturer Boeing continue, the number of airplanes they’re building is trailing off.

Safety in the skies is on a lot of passengers’ minds given recent incidents involving airplanes.

Airlines will now be forced to offer full refunds for flights that don’t get off the ground or are delayed, among other issues.

The pilot of a United Airlines jet that slid off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in March told federal investigators that he did not “slow too much” initially upon landing.

Southwest Airlines has delayed and cancelled dozens of flights from Houston to Florida due to weather conditions.

United Airlines closed out the week with three incidents and a federal agency launching a probe into an issue with one of their aircraft last month.

Officials are working to clear the scene of a plane that reportedly slid off the runway at Bush Airport early Friday morning.

Extreme weather wreaks havoc on travel plans, leaving frustrated passengers stranded

Houston Airports are experiencing some flight delays as heavy rainfall hits the Houston area this Friday.

Travelers are seeing long waits to check in for Southwest Airlines at William P. Hobby Airport on Tuesday.

Whether you’re traveling the skies or roads, here are a few helpful tips for making it to your destination safely, and with fewer headaches.

Houston Airports says it is ready to welcome its largest winter holiday travel crowd on record, reportedly exceeding the passenger total set in 2019.

I-45 closure could impact weekend commute and holiday travel is in full swing

Whether you’re traveling the skies or roads, here are a few helpful tips for making it to your destination safely, and with fewer headaches.

Peruse our terminal-by-terminal guide for restaurant recommendations.

United Airlines is making changes for passengers with wheelchairs after a government investigation into a complaint by a disability-rights advocate.

United Airlines says it has fixed the technology problem that briefly prevented its flights nationwide from taking off.

Dozens of flight attendants for United Airlines gathered Thursday to protest outside of George Bush Intercontinental Airport to demand the airline to fix ongoing operation issues and negotiate a long overdue fair contract, according to a release.

There are more problems with the budget at George Bush Intercontinental Airport surrounding the Mickey Leland International Terminal Redevelopment Project-- it’s soaring once again.

Houston Police Department authorities are holding a news conference at 1:30 p.m. at Bush Intercontinental Airport to discuss thefts at airport garages.

Travelers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are noticing a big difference Tuesday following reports of a malfunctioning air condition system.

Maintenance crews at George Bush Intercontinental Airport worked overnight after the airport’s air conditioning system malfunctioned.

Charges have been filed against a woman whose actions temporarily caused the shutdown of all air travel Tuesday evening at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Even more shocking, authorities say this is not the first time he’s hitched a free airplane ride.

Summer travel is here y'all!

United Airlines is doing its part to help provide those “aging out” of the foster care system much-needed employment opportunities.

Two separate United Airlines flights made an emergency landing at Bush Airport after both planes possibly struck birds upon takeoff late Tuesday evening.

Since our first story aired, KPRC 2 reporter Rilwan Balogun got an email from a viewer who said our web story was inaccurate-- not in any of the reporting, but the line in Houston Airports’ statement where they mentioned it was the first incident of that kind.

A United Airlines flight passenger was arrested and charged with a felony after being accused of assaulting a police officer during a drunken rage at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to court records.

Spring break travel is here, y’all!

If you have plans to travel from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and you wanted to park your car there, you may want to consider other options.

A ground stop was issued at Bush Airport due to a reported fire at one of its terminals, authorities say.

Departures at both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby International Airports are delayed and a ground stop has been issued Tuesday afternoon due to severe thunderstorms, according to Houston Airports.

Fifteen people were hurt when a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Houston encountered severe turbulence.

Holiday travel is here, y’all!

The Houston Astros and United Airlines hosted a pep rally at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday morning.

The Transportation Security Administration screened 8.76 million travelers during the Labor Day holiday.

Both Houston-area airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, have temporarily grounded all flights due to the storms in the area.

Those days of “no-refund” policies at most airlines may soon be a thing of the past.

Both Houston-area airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, have temporarily grounded all flights due to the storms in the area.

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is jamming U.S. airports with the biggest crowds since the pandemic began in 2020.

In observance of Juneteenth, United Airlines will host 100 students from Houston Independent School District and Aldine Independent School District at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for a day of aviation activities.

A plane reportedly skidded off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport due to technical issues on Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.

Not only are there long times outside of Terminal E, but there are no bathrooms inside the waiting area at Terminal E pick up.

Airport officials warn peak travel times are from Thursday through Sunday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Both Houston-area airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, have temporarily grounded all flights due to the storms in the area.

If you’ve traveled out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport recently, or had to pick someone up - you know you’ll have to deal with major construction closures both in and outside of the airport. Our KPRC 2 team is looking at what’s being done at the airport to help travelers get to where they are going on time.

You can check your flight status at Houston airports.

Terminal C’s high-tech fleet of roving security robots was unable to foil an auto theft last Sunday from George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal C garage.

In August, U.S. Representative Troy Nehls told KPRC 2 Investigates he had questions over how the Mickey Leland International Terminal Program at Bush Intercontinental Airport was being managed by the Houston Airports System and its director Mario Diaz.

Both Houston-area airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, have temporarily grounded all flights due to the storms in the area.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport seized 15 live giant African snails from a passenger’s luggage in early July.

Know someone in need of a job? United Airlines is hiring and hosting two job fair sessions Wednesday.

Travelers looking to get a direct flight to El Salvador will be able to do so out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport soon.

A crash that killed one person Friday near Bush Airport stemmed from a domestic disturbance, according to police.

Here are things to know for Monday, April 12:

Beginning Monday, April 12, Southwest Airlines will begin flying passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for the first time in 16 years. The flights will be non-stop to five destinations.

HOUSTON – United passengers can now get tested for coronavirus at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airline partnered with Xpress Spa to open the testing clinic in Terminal E.Passengers can choose from a rapid test with results available in 15 minutes or a PCR test with results in two to three days. If a passenger tests positive, the airline will work to rebook the passenger on a different flight. United and Xpress Spa opened a similar clinic at JFK Airport. Passengers can get more information about the clinic at United’s app, website or at the airline’s Travel Ready center at the airport.

HOUSTON – Sun Country Airlines announced two new nonstop routes from Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport to Las Vegas and Cancun, Mexico. The discount airline added service to nine airports, including the addition of 16 nonstop flights to and from Houston-Bush and several other airports in the U.S., according to a news release on Jan. 25. From Houston-Bush, service to Cancun is set to begin May 27 and will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, while service to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport is set to begin Sept. 2, operating twice a week on the same days. Those itching for a quick getaway can start booking either route on the Sun Country website right away. One-way routes from Houston to Cancun start at $129 and Houston to Las Vegas start at $59.

HOUSTON – Houston, are you ready to travel again? International airline Emirates will increase nonstop flights to and from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to four times a week starting next month, according to a news release. Travel destinations with Emirates include Dubai, Istanbul and Johannesburg. Please note that several countries require a negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to departure. For more information and to book, click here.

HOUSTON – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston is the 2020 Airport of the Year, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA team in Houston consists of more than 1,100 employees, which includes TSA officers, inspectors, canine handlers, explosives experts, managers and program analysts. The award recognizes team achievements in key operations and mission support functions, such as measurable improvements, superior performance, notable innovation and significant operational improvements in support of TSA’s mission. “We are honored to be named TSA’s 2020 Airport of the year,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. “On behalf of the entire team at Bush Airport and the traveling public, I also congratulate the George Bush Intercontinental Airport TSA team for their invaluable commitment to safety and efficiency throughout this challenging year.

HOUSTON – United Airlines’ new baggage handling system at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the first of its kind in the United States. Our Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes got a rare opportunity at a first look behind the scenes at this new technology that impressively reduces the chances of losing your luggage. The new technology will be able to process 10,000 bags per hour. Increased scan accuracy by 25%Creates the ability to reroute customer bags while in storage system without manual intervention ensuring bags get onto the correct flight. Phase two construction begins in January, allowing United Airlines to process even more bags.

HOUSTON – Officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Monday unveiled new autonomous robots that are patrolling the Terminal C parking garage. The robots’ role will be to interact with customers and assist them with vehicle issues such as dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. “So he’s going to patrol around, looking for anomalies or looking for people to help,” said Stacy Stephens, of Knightscope Corporation, the makers of the robot. “So, if you’ve got somebody who maybe has lost their car, came back from a long trip, don’t remember where they parked, there’s a two-way intercom feature that connects them directly with their safety folks so they can actually see where the car is.”The Knightscope K5 Autonomous Data Machine is patrolling 1 to 3 miles per hour in the terminal garage for 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of a pilot program, according to a statement from airport officials.

HOUSTON – Holiday weekend travel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport is down dramatically from past years. “This is going to be our peak of number of passengers since April,” said Houston Airport System spokesperson Augusto Bernal. However, TSA data shows only 87,000 passengers traveled by plane on April 14. As of this morning, the airport system showed 60% of parking available at both major airports. “Unfortunately a lot has been shut down, a lot has been closed,” said Rob Wigington, the Executive Director of Airport Restaurant and Retail Association.

Amid a monthslong pandemic, airports around the world suffered as far fewer people traveled due to global restrictions. According to Finance Buzz, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, is high on the list of U.S. airports hit hardest. Ranking in the top 15 of U.S. airports seeing the biggest decline in departing passengers, IAH is down 82.83% from June 2019 compared to June 2020. According to data available from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, IAH saw 1,473,575 travelers come through in June 2019 while only 253,036 traveled out of the airport amid the summer month impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Buzz reports. However, of the 15 airports that make the list, Houston saw the fourth most passengers in June 2020 compared to others which faced the COVID-19 travel slump.

HOUSTON – Southwest Airlines will soon fly out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an Houston airports official announced on Twitter Monday. In a statement posted on Twitter, Mario Diaz, director of Aviation - Houston Airports, shared this statement:“Houston Airports is excited to soon welcome Southwest Airlines to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) -- the nation’s number one Skytrax ranked airport. Southwest Airlines will continue its exceptional service and operations out of WillIam P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and its new service out of IAH will only complement its current offerings. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) will be added for service alongside existing service from the carrier’s longtime Chicago home, Midway International Airport (MDW). “Southwest owes decades of success to our employees and customers who have supported our business in Chicago and Houston,” said Gary Kelly, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Southwest Airlines.

HOUSTON – The Transportation Security Administration at George Bush Intercontinental Airport found eight guns inside luggage over the course of a week, according to a news release. Those eight were part of 92 that have been found in 2020, meaning 11.5% of guns found at IAH were found in just a week, the release revealed. Here is a breakdown:9/20/2020: .40 loaded9/20/2020: 9mm loaded9/22/2020: .380 loaded9/23/2020: .380 loaded9/23/2020: .357 loaded9/24/2020: .380 unloaded9/24/2020: 9mm unloaded9/27/2020: 9mm loaded“Guns are prohibited in the cabins of airplanes. This law has been in place long before TSA existed,” said Juan Sanchez, TSA’s Federal Security Director for IAH. Go online to see the rules for transporting firearms.

HOUSTON – Houston’s travel and tourism industry has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston hotels still strugglingBut the outlook for the Houston area’s hotel industry isn’t as clear. “The accommodation sector is at nearly a 35% unemployment rate,” said Sawan Patel, who owns several Houston hotels with his father. Great travel deals availableThe good news that there are great travel deals available as airlines and hotels try to boost their businesses. Find hotel and dining deals in HoustonFind hotel and dining deals in AustinFind hotel and dining deals along San Antonio’s famous Riverwalk

HOUSTON – More than a dozen air carriers have restarted service of international flights from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, according to a release from Houston Airports. “The latest air carrier service restorations from Air France, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines on Sept. 2 mark Houston’s significant rebound in connectivity to European, Middle Eastern and Latin American destinations,” officials wrote in a press release. “Nearly two-thirds of the airlines providing international service at George Bush Intercontinental airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby airport (HOU) have now been restored following a sharp decline of air service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”The following carriers have restarted their international services to and from Houston:“We are an international city with an economy that thrives on global connectivity,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the release. “These significant steps in restoring air service will help Houston begin to recover from the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. I can assure you that this meaningful and significant restoration of international air-service is being matched with a strong emphasis on safety.”These are the destinations Houstonians can fly to due to the resumption of service: