Welcome toWilliam P. Hobby Airport

For the first time, students from Texas Southern University are serving as Volunteer Ambassadors at Houston Airports, stepping out of the classroom and into one of the most dynamic learning environments in aviation — the airport itself.Spread across terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), the students are helping travelers navigate terminals, answering questions at information counters and offering the kind of hospitality that can shape a passenger’s first impression of Houston.For Ella Ghica, manager of volunteer initiatives for Houston Airports, the pilot partnership is about far more than volunteer hours. “We are preparing our future workforce,” Ghica said. “It’s our future operations managers. It’s our new pilots. You name it.”The partnership, launched last fall as part of a pilot program with students from TSU’s aviation program, integrates service learning into real airport operations. Students volunteer four hours a week, 16 hours a month, for at least six months, gaining exposure to the rhythms and demands of a global airport while still in school.For some, that exposure is already changing career paths.Ghica recalled one student who arrived thinking he wanted to become a cargo pilot, then changed course after spending time with an air traffic controller mentor.“That’s what this experience can do,” she said. “They can actually see the needs of the airport and how they can impact the future of airports.”That hands-on exposure, she said, offers something textbooks alone cannot. Airports, after all, are classrooms of their own.LEARN MORE: Join our volunteer teamStudents in the program have served during the irregular operations, airline transitions and severe weather events, gaining experience during moments that tested operations and customer service. Some have also spent time with Houston Airports leadership, including Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak and Chief Operating Officer Kelly Woodward, getting a broader view of what aviation careers can look like. But perhaps the strongest lessons have come through service.Ghica lit up, recounting a passenger interaction with a confused traveler who needed help navigating the terminals. A student ambassador did not simply point the passenger in the right direction. “He said, ‘I’m going to come with you, ma’am. I’m going to take you there myself,” Ghica recalled.The passenger’s reaction, she said, was priceless.“When people come to the airport and see our employees in our signature orange polo shirts, they may not realize some of those helping them are volunteers,” Ghica said. “People cannot tell the difference between the service they receive from a paid employee or a volunteer,” she said. “It’s first class.”For Houston Airports, the program also deepens a growing relationship with TSU and strengthens a workforce pipeline at a time when aviation faces long-term talent needs.For the students, it offers something equally powerful: belonging. One student showed up to interview for the volunteer role in a suit. “They’re taking this opportunity seriously,” she said.The pilot program is expected to continue through the FIFA World Cup and expand in the fall. She sees growth ahead. But she also sees something bigger.“My wildest dream is for a student to go from an airport volunteer to an airport CEO one day.” And maybe that is the point.Sometimes the path into aviation doesn’t begin in a cockpit or classroom. Sometimes the journey starts by helping a passenger find the right terminal.

UPDATED: April 13, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.Houston Airports confirms the below TSA Checkpoints are open:- Terminal A: Standard Screening, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR- Terminal C: Standard Screening, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR- Terminal D: Standard Screening- Terminal E: Standard Screening, TSA PreCheck and CLEARTSA PreCheck and CLEAR availability is not guaranteed and may change day to day based on staffing. CHECK NOW: TSA wait times at IAHCHECK NOW: TSA wait times at HOURecent federal action is providing back pay to TSA officers, but the federal government shutdown remains ongoing. TSA staffing levels continue to fluctuate. Passengers should be prepared for longer-than-normal TSA wait times.Passenger volumes also vary throughout the week and can impact wait times:- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically lighter- Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays are busierPassengers needing additional assistance, including those traveling with children or requiring accessibility support, should contact their airline before entering a TSA line.Before You Arrive:- Check TSA wait times- Stay in contact with your airline- Arrive early and allow extra time for screeningWe understand this is a difficult experience since the federal shutdown began on Feb. 14.Thank you for your patience, flexibility and continued cooperation.

On March 6, National Employee Appreciation Day, Houston Airports is recognizing its 1,300 employees who keep one of North America’s largest airport systems running around the clock. Their work powers the mission of Houston Airports: connecting the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston. Airports operate like small cities. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) / Houston Spaceport, teams coordinate everything from runway safety and security screening to baggage systems, customer service, concessions, technology infrastructure and emergency response.Many shifts begin long before the first flight departs.Maintenance crews inspect facilities overnight. Operations teams monitor weather and airfield conditions. Customer service representatives prepare to greet passengers from around the world. And across every terminal, custodians, airline staff, TSA officers, concession workers and airport employees in administrative roles like finance, communications, marketing and I.T., help ensure travelers experience a clean, organized and welcoming environment.That effort reflects a shared culture inside Houston Airports — one built around relationships, innovation, service and excellence.Leaders often describe the goal simply: make passengers happy.But delivering that experience requires coordination across dozens of teams and partners who work together to solve problems quickly and keep travelers moving safely and efficiently.- For passengers, the result is something simple: a smoother journey from curb to gate.- For Houston Airports employees, it is a daily commitment to serve a global city with pride.Today, travelers passing through IAH or HOU are invited to join in recognizing the people who make that experience possible.If you see an airport employee helping someone find a gate, keeping a terminal spotless or answering a question with a smile, take a moment to say thank you.Behind every departure board and boarding announcement is a team working quietly to make sure Houston stays connected to the world.