William P Hobby Airport (KHOU), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
William P Hobby Airport (KHOU) sits roughly 8 nautical miles from downtown Houston, serving as a towered, public-use reliever airport with three paved runways up to 7,602 feet long. The field supports significant business aviation activity alongside commercial operations, with on-site CBP inspection and a USDA compliance agreement enabling direct international clearance. Nearby general aviation fields including Ellington and Pearland Regional sit within roughly 8 nautical miles, giving the region layered airport options around the same traffic area.
Runways
William P Hobby Airport has three paved runways. The longest, 04/22, is 7,602 ft long and 150 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
William P Hobby Airport has Jet A, Jet A1 and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
William P Hobby Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
William P Hobby Airport recorded 57,306 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in March and November. Business aviation traffic at KHOU concentrates around March, October, and July, the airport's identified peak months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month March, 5,463 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
William P Hobby Airport averages 26.3 days above 90°F in July and 2.1 freeze days in January. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 93.5°F, and January the coldest, at 63.8°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
William P Hobby Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
The airport is closed to aircraft with a wingspan over 125 feet, except with 24-hour prior permission arranged through Airport Operations.
Approach ratio is 36:1 to the displaced threshold.
Due to the complex runway configuration, check compass heading before departing when taxiing to the Runway 13L and 13R thresholds.
Aircraft southbound on Taxiway C toward the Runway 31L threshold should use extreme care, as Taxiway C makes a 45-degree dogleg to the left where it crosses Taxiway K.
Aircraft in takeoff position on Runway 22 should be alert for possible radio interference or null reception on frequency 118.7, and should use the upper antenna if so equipped.
The customs ramp has multiple obstructions; large aircraft will be assigned an alternate area by the tower.
Numerous birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 620/R/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 200/R/D/W/T
PCR VALUE: 670/R/B/W/T
On the west side only, the distance from Taxiway G centerline to parked aircraft is 68 feet, and the distance from Taxiway G centerline to the edge of the adjacent service vehicle road is 48 feet.
Pilots and crew should be aware of departure turns in excess of 180 degrees; reading back the direction of turn is highly encouraged.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
William P Hobby Airport has five airfields within 19 NM. The closest is Ellington (KEFD), 6.60 NM east.
Part of the Houston area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KHOU
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KHOU.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wingspan restriction at KHOU?
William P Hobby Airport is closed to aircraft with a wingspan over 125 feet. Operators of larger aircraft can only use KHOU with prior permission, arranged through Airport Operations, on a 24-hour PPR basis. This restriction shapes which widebody and large-cabin jets can plan a trip into Hobby without advance coordination. Dispatchers scheduling anything near that wingspan threshold should confirm PPR status before filing. The restriction is separate from any runway length or weight consideration at the field.
Does KHOU have on-site customs clearance?
Yes, William P Hobby Airport offers on-site CBP inspection services along with a USDA compliance agreement. This means arriving international flights can clear customs directly at KHOU rather than diverting to a separate facility. The USDA compliance agreement is relevant for flights carrying agricultural products or animals that require inspection under that specific arrangement. Crews should still confirm current CBP staffing and any advance notification requirements before an international arrival. The presence of both CBP and USDA processes at one field is a operational advantage for international business aviation traffic through Houston.
What runways are available at KHOU?
KHOU, William P Hobby Airport, has three paved runways. Runway 04/22 is a 7,602-foot concrete surface at 150 feet wide, and Runway 13R/31L matches that same 7,602-foot length on asphalt, also 150 feet wide. Runway 13L/31R is shorter, at 5,148 feet long and 100 feet wide, with a concrete surface. The two longer runways provide the capacity needed for larger business jets, while the shorter crosswind runway supports lighter traffic. Taxi routing to Runway 13L and 13R thresholds requires a compass heading check before departure due to the complex runway configuration.
When is business aviation traffic busiest at William P Hobby Airport?
Business aviation traffic at William P Hobby Airport peaks in March, October, and July, according to FAA TFMSC data for 2025. Monthly bizav operations range from a low near 4,045 in July's counted figure context up to 5,463 in March, showing meaningful month-to-month variation across the year. November and December also post totals above 5,000 operations. Dispatchers planning ramp or slot availability around these peak months should expect tighter conditions than during quieter periods like June or August. The airport's annual bizav operations total 57,306 against 182,523 total annual operations.
Are there any taxiway or approach hazards noted for KHOU?
Yes, William P Hobby Airport lists several taxiway and approach cautions in its remarks. Aircraft southbound on Taxiway C toward the Runway 31L threshold must use extreme care because the taxiway makes a 45-degree dogleg to the left where it crosses Taxiway K. Aircraft in takeoff position on Runway 22 should watch for possible radio interference or null reception on frequency 118.7 and use an upper antenna if equipped. Pilots should also expect departure turns exceeding 180 degrees and are encouraged to read back the direction of turn. Numerous birds are reported on and near the airport as well.