George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport (KIAH), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
George Bush Intercontinental Houston (KIAH) is a Category I towered airport serving the greater Houston metropolitan area, located roughly 13.6 nautical miles from the metro center. The field recorded 456,392 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with 10,569 of those attributed to business aviation, placing it firmly in Skystar's top operations tier. Five concrete runways, CBP inspection services on-site, and an extensive network of taxiway restrictions tied to aircraft wingspan make KIAH a high-complexity airport for flight planning and ground movement.
Runways
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport has five paved runways. The longest, 15L/33R, is 12,001 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
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport has Jet A 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
George Bush Intcntl / Houston 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
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport recorded 10,569 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in March. Business aviation traffic at KIAH is somewhat concentrated in March and October, the two highest-volume months in the 2025 data, with November recording the lowest monthly total.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month March, 1,033 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport averages 27.3 days above 90°F in July, 4.1 freeze days in January and 0.1 snow days in December. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 94.9°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
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport has published operating constraints in six categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Taxiway NR is closed to aircraft with wingspans greater than 125 feet between taxiway WD and taxiway WB.
The north-south taxilane on the Terminal Alpha north ramp apron is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 125 feet.
The run-up pad on taxiway WW for runway 15L is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of 135 feet or greater.
Runway 09/27 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of 215 feet or greater.
Taxiway SF between runway 09/27 up to and including the east bridge is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of 215 feet or greater.
Taxiway NR between taxiway NC and taxiway WW is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 214 feet.
Taxiway WW between taxiway NR and taxiway WB is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 214 feet.
GBAS approach service volume extends 20 nautical miles from the threshold for all GLS approaches.
Spot 5 on the Terminal Alpha north ramp apron is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 118 feet.
The east-west taxilane on the Terminal Alpha north ramp apron is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 118 feet.
Spot 6 on the Terminal Alpha north ramp apron is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 125 feet.
Taxiway WD between taxiway NR and taxiway WB is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 171 feet.
Simultaneous aircraft operations are prohibited on taxiway NJ between taxiway NB and the Terminal C ramp when the middle taxilane is in use; the middle taxilane is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of more than 214 feet.
Taxiway RC is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 118 feet.
Pilots conducting enhanced flight vision system operations should be aware that LED approach lighting systems are in use on runway 09 and runway 33R.
The following movement areas are not visible from the airport traffic control tower: portions of taxiways WA and WB from taxiway WH to the arrival end of runway 33R; taxiways WA and WB from taxiway WD north for 400 feet; taxiway WD from taxiway WA to taxiway NR; taxiway NR; and taxiway WL from runway 15L to taxiway WB and taxiway WM.
Magnetic anomalies on runway 15L/33R may affect compass heading during takeoff.
Taxiway WC west of runway 15R/33L is restricted to aircraft with a wingspan of 118 feet or below.
Runway status lights are in operation.
A noise-sensitive area lies to the north, east, and west of the airport.
Birds on and in the vicinity of the airport.
A wildlife hazard from bats exists in the vicinity of IAH.
PCR VALUE: 1100/R/A/W/T
PCR VALUE: 1090/R/A/W/T
PCR VALUE: 690/R/A/W/T
PCR VALUE: 870/R/B/W/T
PCR VALUE: 980/R/A/W/T
Taxilanes RA, RB, RC, R2, and taxiway SC north of taxiway SB are designated non-movement areas operated by United Airlines ramp control.
A 9-foot AGL unmarked security fence is located adjacent to the FBO and corporate base operator ramps and to non-movement area taxiways.
Taxiway SF between taxiway NB and taxilane RA is a designated non-movement area.
Dual taxiway operations occur on taxiway NK between taxiway NB and the north ramp; the west centerline is restricted to aircraft with a maximum wingspan of 125 feet, and the east centerline to a maximum wingspan of 214 feet.
Magnetic anomalies on taxiways WA and WB may affect compass heading.
Taxiway NR between WW and taxiway WB is a designated non-movement area.
Simultaneous aircraft operations are prohibited on taxiway NK between taxiway NB and the Terminal D ramp when the middle taxilane is in use.
Helicopter hover taxi is restricted to hard-surface movement areas only.
Taxiway NA lighting between taxiway WP and taxiway NP is not standard.
Pilots and crews should be aware of departure turns on courses in excess of 180 degrees; pilot readback of the direction of turn is highly encouraged.
Dual taxiway operations occur on taxiway NJ between taxiway NB and the Terminal C ramp; both the west and east centerlines are restricted to aircraft with a maximum wingspan of 118 feet.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
George Bush Intcntl / Houston Airport has five airfields within 24 NM. The closest is David Wayne Hooks Memorial (KDWH), 11.93 NM northwest.
Part of the Houston area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KIAH
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 KIAH.
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 weight limit at KIAH, and are there wingspan restrictions instead?
George Bush Intercontinental does not publish a general weight limit for arriving traffic. Instead, KIAH manages large aircraft through a series of wingspan-based taxiway and apron restrictions. Runway 09/27 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of 215 feet or greater, and several taxiways including NR and WW carry the same 214-foot cutoff between specific segments. Other taxiways such as WC and RC are restricted to spans of 118 feet and below. Dispatchers should check the specific taxiway routing rather than a single field-wide weight figure.
How many runways does KIAH have, and which is the longest?
George Bush Intercontinental Houston operates five paved runways, all concrete. The longest is 15L/33R at 12,001 feet, matching the airport's published maximum paved runway length. Runway 09/27 measures 10,000 feet, as does 15R/33L. The two remaining runways, 08R/26L and 08L/26R, measure 9,402 feet and 9,000 feet respectively. All five runways are 150 feet wide, giving KIAH substantial capacity for widebody and cargo traffic across parallel and crosswind configurations.
Is customs available on-site at IAH for international arrivals?
Yes, CBP inspection services are available on-site at George Bush Intercontinental Houston, along with a USDA compliance agreement covering agricultural inspection needs. This places IAH among the airports where international arrivals can clear federal inspection directly at the field rather than diverting to a nearby customs-designated airport. The airport's high annual operations volume, over 456,000 total operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, reflects its role as a major international gateway. Crews should still confirm current CBP hours and any prior notice requirements for the specific arrival.
Does KIAH have any wildlife or bird hazard advisories?
Yes, George Bush Intercontinental Houston carries two separate wildlife advisories in its remarks. One flags general bird activity on and in the vicinity of the airport. A second, more specific advisory notes a bat hazard in the vicinity of IAH. Crews operating at low altitude near the field, particularly during dusk and nighttime hours, should factor both advisories into their situational awareness for arrival and departure phases.
What seasonal pattern shows up in business aviation traffic at KIAH?
Business aviation traffic at George Bush Intercontinental Houston shows a concentration in early spring and again in fall, with March recording 1,033 operations and October recording 980 operations, the two highest months in the 2025 dataset. November is the lowest month at 633 operations. Overall bizav volume runs against a total annual operations count of 456,392 at the airport. Dispatchers planning shoulder-season trips into KIAH should expect comparatively higher business aviation density in March and October relative to the November trough.