HOUSTON (April 7, 2020) – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) cargo operations are considered among the best in the world, according to an air cargo excellence survey released this week by Air Cargo World. IAH was named the Gold Winner in the 2020 Air Cargo Excellence Awards competition in the Airports with Cargo Handling Capacity Up to 999,999 Tons category. 

"We are thrilled to receive this award especially during this unprecedented time,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. “This achievement is a testimony to our focus on fostering growth in cargo operations at Bush Airport that’s led by Molly Waits, Director of Air Service Development. During the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen just how critical cargo operations are to our entire community. Our cargo operations have also been a lifeline to the professionals who are on the front line of the war against this virus.”  

The awards are based on the impartial Air Cargo Excellence Survey which was established in 2005 by Air Cargo World magazine. They are presented annually to airports and cargo airlines achieving the highest survey scores based on several performance factors, including customer service, performance, and value. IAH obtained third place in its category behind Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) and Luxembourg (LUX) airports, respectively. HAS partner Southwest Airlines was selected as a Diamond winner in the Airlines Carrying Up to 999,999 Tons category. 

In 2019, IAH handled more than 513,300 metric tons of cargo. Diaz said that Houston Airports remains committed to developing and improving connectivity, and new scheduled service offerings such as CAL Cargo Airlines have help expand available options to diverse regions. 

IAH cargo operations include two separate cargo areas and cargo operations have access to the airport's five runways which can accommodate any cargo aircraft, including the world's largest, the Antonov AN-225 Mriya.  

About Houston Airport System 
Houston Airports is the City of Houston’s Department of Aviation. Comprised of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) / Houston Spaceport, Houston Airports served nearly 60 million passengers in 2019.  Houston Airports form one of North America's largest public airport systems and position Houston as the international passenger and cargo gateway to the South Central United States and a primary gateway to Latin America.  Houston is proud to be the only city in the Western Hemisphere with two Skytrax rated 4-star airports.  Learn more at  fly2houston.com.  

MEDIA CONTACT

Augusto Bernal

Houston Airports | Public Information Officer

augusto.bernal@houstontx.go