Direct Flights From Houston: Nonstop Routes From IAH and Hobby

Houston has two commercial airports with nonstop service to destinations across the US, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) serves more than 180 nonstop destinations and is United Airlines' largest Gulf Coast hub. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), about 11 miles southeast of downtown, is Southwest Airlines' main Houston base and the faster choice for domestic Southwest routes and select destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Knowing which airport to choose -- and which routes each actually flies -- saves time, money, and the occasional wrong-airport mistake.

Which airport should you fly from?

The decision usually comes down to your airline. United flies almost exclusively from IAH; Southwest flies almost exclusively from Hobby. Everything else depends on where you are going.

Fly from IAH if: you are going anywhere in Europe, Asia, or South America; you are on United or another non-Southwest carrier; or you need the widest domestic schedule.

Fly from Hobby if: you are on Southwest; you are heading to Cancun, Mexico City, or Costa Rica and want to use Rapid Rewards points; or you are starting your trip from Pearland, Clear Lake, or anywhere in south or southeast Houston.

Nonstop flights from IAH

George Bush Intercontinental Airport sits about 23 miles north of downtown in Harris County. It runs five terminals (A through E), with Terminal E handling all international arrivals and departures. United's schedule dominates with dozens of departures daily, and the airport's official destination map at fly2houston.com lists more than 180 nonstop cities -- making it one of the most connected airports in the southern United States.

US and Canada from IAH

United runs nonstop service to virtually every major US city. Its most frequent domestic routes connect IAH to its other hubs: Newark (EWR), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Washington Dulles (IAD). For the Northeast and West Coast, these are often the only nonstop options on United's schedule.

American Airlines flies nonstop from IAH to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA). Delta covers Atlanta (ATL). Air Canada connects IAH to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR). Additional nonstop service to Boston, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Orlando runs on United and select carriers.

Europe from IAH: the strongest case for this airport

This is where IAH earns its reputation. United and British Airways both fly nonstop to London Heathrow (LHR), roughly 9 to 10 hours. United and Lufthansa link IAH to Frankfurt (FRA); Air France connects IAH to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) nonstop; KLM serves Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) nonstop from IAH.

From any of those four European gateway cities you can connect to the rest of the continent on a single ticket.

The fact that surprises most Houstonians: IAH offers nonstop service to all four main European airline gateway cities -- London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam -- an unusually complete transatlantic reach for a US city outside the Northeast. The business case is Houston's energy sector, which needs reliable direct connections to European petroleum capitals without routing through New York or Atlanta.

Mexico and the Caribbean from IAH

United and Aeromexico fly nonstop to Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL), and Monterrey (MTY) from IAH. Seasonal routes to Cancun (CUN), Los Cabos (SJD), and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) run daily from roughly November through April, with year-round options available on many dates. Copa Airlines connects IAH to Panama City (PTY), its regional hub, from which you can reach most of Central America and the Caribbean without a US layover.

South America from IAH

Houston's energy industry has long supported South America routes. United flies nonstop to Bogota (BOG) -- about five hours -- and Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU), roughly nine hours. United also serves Lima, Peru (LIM) nonstop from IAH. Check fly2houston.com for the full current list, as South American route frequency varies significantly by season.

Asia from IAH

United operates nonstop flights from IAH to Tokyo Narita (NRT) on roughly 14-hour flights. This is one of the longest nonstop routes operated from any US Gulf Coast airport, and it exists largely because Houston's energy and medical sectors maintain significant Japan operations. Check fly2houston.com for current Asia-Pacific destinations, as routes in this region see more schedule variation than European services.

Nonstop flights from Hobby

William P. Hobby Airport opened in 1927 and served as Houston's main commercial airport until IAH opened in 1969. Today it is Southwest Airlines' largest Texas base. In October 2015, Southwest opened a dedicated international terminal -- Concourse E -- at Hobby, the airline's first-ever international facility. Southwest already had the highest flight frequency of any carrier at Hobby, making it the natural base for the new service.

US domestic from Hobby

Southwest runs a dense domestic schedule from Hobby to Dallas Love Field (DAL), Denver (DEN), Chicago Midway (MDW), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Los Angeles (LAX), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Atlanta (ATL), Nashville (BNA), Orlando (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL), among others. Schedules change seasonally; always confirm at southwest.com before searching fares. Delta also operates some Hobby routes.

International from Hobby

Southwest's Concourse E connects Hobby to Cancun (CUN), Mexico City (MEX), Los Cabos (SJD), Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), and San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). Some routes run year-round; others are seasonal peaks. For travelers with Rapid Rewards miles, the Cancun route from Hobby frequently costs far fewer points than a comparable seat on United from IAH.

Getting to and from each airport

IAH is the faster drive from north Houston: The Woodlands, Kingwood, and Humble are within 30 to 40 minutes on a clear day. Hobby is faster from south Houston: Pearland, League City, Clear Lake, and the Medical Center area are within 20 to 30 minutes.

METRO's 102 bus connects downtown Houston to IAH; neither airport has METRORail service. For the full transit picture, see our METRO Houston guide. Our guides to hotels near IAH and hotels near Hobby cover free shuttle options and park-and-fly packages. If you have a long layover, the IAH dining guide and Hobby dining guide cover every terminal.

How we chose these routes

The destinations listed here appear on the official nonstop route maps at fly2houston.com and on the booking sites for United, Southwest, and the other carriers named. All air routes are subject to schedule changes and seasonal adjustments. Verify that your specific route is operating before purchasing any ticket -- and confirm your departure airport. More than one Houston traveler has arrived at the wrong one.

Save this: pre-booking checklist

• Check which airport your airline uses first. Southwest = Hobby. United and most international carriers = IAH.
• Visit fly2houston.com for the current nonstop destination map before price-hunting -- it confirms a route exists in seconds.
• Compare Hobby and IAH for Mexico and the Caribbean. Southwest's Hobby fares and points costs are frequently competitive.
• Budget extra time at IAH: five terminals, with up to a 20-minute walk between Terminal C check-in and a Terminal E gate on a busy day.
• Book airport parking in advance for holiday weekends -- departure-weekend spots disappear weeks out.
• Planning the rest of the trip? Our first-time visitors guide and Houston airports guide cover what comes next.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What airlines fly nonstop from Houston to Europe?

United and British Airways fly nonstop from IAH to London Heathrow; United and Lufthansa serve Frankfurt; Air France serves Paris Charles de Gaulle; and KLM serves Amsterdam Schiphol. All European nonstop routes depart from IAH, not Hobby.

Does Southwest fly internationally from Houston?

Yes. Southwest operates nonstop international service from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Cancun, Mexico City, Los Cabos, Montego Bay, and San Jose, Costa Rica, departing from Concourse E, a dedicated international terminal that opened in October 2015.

What is the longest nonstop flight from Houston?

United's nonstop flights from IAH to Tokyo Narita run roughly 14 hours, making this one of the longest nonstop routes operated from any US Gulf Coast airport.

Is IAH or Hobby closer to downtown Houston?

Hobby Airport is about 11 miles southeast of downtown and is generally quicker to reach from the south side of the city. IAH is about 23 miles north and faster for travelers coming from The Woodlands, Kingwood, and north Harris County.

Can you take public transit from downtown Houston to the airport?

METRO's 102 bus connects downtown Houston to IAH. Neither airport has direct METRORail service. Rideshare services and hotel shuttles are the most common options for most travelers.

Which airport should a first-time visitor fly into?

Most first-time visitors fly into IAH, which has the most arriving flights, the largest number of hotel shuttles, and nonstop service from virtually every major US city. Hobby is the better choice if you are flying Southwest or staying in south Houston.