Nearly 600 guests gathered in a spacious ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Houston to hear Houston Aviation Director Mario Diaz give his 2022 State of the Airports address Oct. 5.  

The well-attended event was again hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Katie Pryor, Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President, Member Engagement, welcomed everyone and provided opening remarks. Bob Harvey, GHP President and CEO, introduced Diaz and also delivered closing remarks. Diaz delivered a solid, visionary speech for nearly 30 minutes on the theme of “ The Future: Challenges and Exciting Opportunities.” 

After recognizing Mayor Turner who was in attendance as well as many other government officials and federal agency partners, Diaz noted the continuing challenge of COVID and the need to remain vigilant against it. 

He then launched into a well-received speech that covered many topics of significance to the Houston public. Highlights included:  

• Strong showings by William P. Hobby Airport in the 2022 Skytrax Awards, garnering recognition as the first 5-star airport in North America. George Bush Intercontinental Airport also received multiple honors, including recognition as a 4-star airport for the fifth consecutive year 

• Traffic and roadway issues at Bush Airport due to ongoing construction by the airport and its partners were largely resolved after mitigation measures were enacted after June 2022. “We are rebuilding and modernizing in a live operational environment,” Diaz said. “To use an analogy, it’s akin to performing heart surgery on a runner – while she’s running! A program the scale of ITRP is complex and it has created great challenges.” 

• The continued advancement of the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program, ITRP, at Bush Airport, will ultimately include a new 17-lane security checkpoint, roadway improvements, a new concourse, a fully renovated Terminal D and much more. 

• Upgrades and improvements at William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport. Southwest Airlines is currently expanding the West Pier at Hobby, extending it by seven more gates. At Ellington via the Houston Spaceport, three anchor tenants, Collins Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and Axiom Space are at the forefront of a new era in space travel. They are developing a space station, lunar landers, and much more. 

• Exciting future opportunities for Houston Airports via technology, including eVTOLs, electric vertical takeoff and landing copters (“flying taxis”) which will ultimately reshape the flying experience – projected to be only 3-4 years away from reality 

• Actively work to reduce environmental impacts, including exploring the use of solar panels and farms and pursuing the Net Zero initiative which works toward climate ambition pledges and inclusive energy systems. 

• Houston Airports' thriving arts program includes a new Artists-in-Residence program recently undertaken at Bush and Hobby airports.

The Houston region is now home to more than 7.3 million people, Diaz said, and investing in infrastructure and advanced technology remains critical in keeping up with a large, growing populace and the city’s significant standing in the global marketplace. 

The ITRP is among the capital improvement programs and projects underway at Bush and Hobby Airports aimed at creating a better experience for passengers and accommodating ever-increasing passenger demand post-COVID. 

Southwest Airlines is adding seven new gates at Hobby Airport, one of which will accommodate international travel. Additional improvements include a renovated baggage claim area. 

Passenger traffic has increased compared to last year, but it remains below pre-pandemic levels in most instances. According to Houston Airports’ latest aviation data, it handled 35 million passengers between January and August 2022, a 26% increase over the same period a year earlier. 

“Our airport system is one of the region’s key economic drivers. It fuels growth across the region and is an important factor in advancing Houston as a great, globally-connected city,” Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey said during the event. 

Diaz’s closing remarks reminded the audience that “we are living in a world of constant upheaval,” from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to catastrophic weather events, to a shrinking U.S. economy, and more. 

“It is imperative to us at Houston Airports that we do everything we can to further enhance this great city and to help the world around us, to bring people closer together,” Diaz said. 

“I’m proud to be a part of this illustrious city, and proud of the work that Houston Airports does to bring the magic of flight to all of our citizens. it has been one of the privileges of my career to serve this city, a city that I’ve called home for the past 12 years. Your interests are my interests, and the senior team at Houston Airports has worked so hard to do not only the right things for you, but, to do things right.”