Houston City Council has unanimously approved the first instalment of funding to construct William P. Hobby Airport’s (HOU) West Concourse Expansion Project in Houston, Texas.
This 470 million USD project aims to support the airport’s increased demand alongside the continued growth of Southwest Airlines.
The expansion is scheduled to begin in early 2024 and will take place over the course of two years. It will add 7 additional gates to accommodate domestic and international flights and will expand and renovate HOU’s baggage handling system and baggage claim area.
In addition, an overhead canopy will be constructed along the departures curb to provide weather protection and to connect the Red Garage to the terminal.
In anticipation of increased demand from Southwest passengers, in March 2022, the the City Council initially approved 20 million USD of airport funding for the planning and design of the expansion project.
Now, the Council has given its approval for Houston Airports to use 250 million USD of airport funds to commence construction.
In the next 12 to 15 months, Houston Airports will also request to use an additional 200 million USD on this project, totalling a 470 million USD investment.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said:With business and leisure travel on the rise, this is an exciting time for expansion at one of our major airports. William P. Hobby Airport is the first and only 5-Star Skytrax airport in North America, and passengers deserve a first-class experience. As a global city and sought-after destination, we have excelled in attracting new air services. Enhancing our Houston Hobby Airport infrastructure strengthens the backbone of our economic vitality and cultural prosperity. This expansion project symbolises our commitment to a thriving future.
The West Concourse Expansion Project comes less than a decade after Hobby Airport last expanded to construct the 280,000-square-foot West Concourse for Southwest Airlines.
The concourse currently includes five gates, a ticketing hall, a Federal Inspection Services facility and an expanded TSA checkpoint. The opening of this facility marked the return of international air service to Hobby Airport after a 46-year hiatus.
