Texas Airports Travel Guide

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Cassidy Rush is a writer with a background in careers, business, and education. She covers international finance news and stories for Remitly.

Key Highlights

Texas has the highest number of airports in the United States. This means people have many options for travel in and out of the state.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the largest airport in Texas. It is also a major hub for American Airlines.
In Houston, the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is the main hub for United Airlines. It offers a lot of international flights.
Dallas Love Field (DAL) is very important for Southwest Airlines. It serves many domestic routes across the United States.
Some other big airports in Texas are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and San Antonio International Airport.

Introduction

Welcome to the Lone Star State! Texas is big and full of life, and people often use air travel to get around its many cities and towns. There are more airports in Texas than in any other state. Whether you travel for work or for fun, you have many choices. You can fly out of a huge international airport that is a major hub for people going all over the world. You can also pick from smaller and easy-to-reach airports nearby. This guide will help you choose from the top airports across Texas so your trip can be smooth and easy.

Top Texas Airports for Travelers

The State of Texas has more airports than any other state in the United States. Air travel is a big part of how people get around in Texas. A lot of passenger traffic goes through some large airports, with Dallas Fort Worth International and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston at the front. These airports serve big commercial airlines like American Airlines, helping Texas connect with the rest of the world.

From the busy metro area of Dallas to the lively city of Houston, these facilities are much more than runways. They help you start your next trip. Knowing about the main airports and where you will find them is important when you want to plan your travels. Let’s take a look at the top five airports that help keep Texas on the move.

1. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – Gateway to the World

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is known for its size. The airport covers more than 18,000 acres. This makes DFW the largest in Texas, and the second-largest in the country by area. Because the airport is so big, it can handle a lot of passenger traffic. DFW is the busiest airport in Texas and one of the busiest in the world.

DFW is the main and biggest major hub for American Airlines. It is an important link for both flights within the country and flights to other continents. The DFW airport serves 144 spots in the United States and 46 spots in other countries. If you need to fly somewhere else in the world, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport gives many good choices. It is a top pick for international flights because of this wide network.

There are five terminals at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, like Terminal B. With these, the airport can help millions of people move through every year. The location of DFW is right between Dallas and Fort Worth. This spot makes it an easy gateway for anyone coming to North Texas.

2. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – Houston’s Global Hub

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is in Houston. It is the second-largest airport in Texas. People know it as a key spot for worldwide travel. IAH is the biggest hub for United Airlines. The airport helps millions of people fly to places all around the world. This international airport supports the whole Houston area in a big way.

Houston and Dallas Fort Worth airports have different main airline partners. At Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), American Airlines is the main carrier. At IAH, United Airlines is the focus. This means flight choices and routes change based on where you fly from. George Bush Intercontinental is known for having more flights to Mexico than any other airport in the U.S. For that reason, many people use IAH to get to Latin American destinations.

IAH stays busy all year. There are high passenger traffic numbers and five terminals to keep up with all the travelers. The Federal Aviation Administration says the airport is a major part of national air travel. This helps make sure IAH meets the top standards for safety and how it works.

3. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) – Heart of Central Texas

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is the main airport in Austin and the Central Texas area. It is the third busiest airport in Texas, and that makes it important for people who want to get in or out of the state capital. If you want to know how many commercial airports are in Texas, AUS is one of the top examples of a big international airport in the state.

The airport mostly flies people to other places inside the United States. You will find flights on a range of commercial airlines that go to different cities all across the country. When people see the IATA code, AUS, they know they are heading to Austin, often called the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Folks come in for music, work, or just to enjoy the city.

Austin is a growing city, and its airport is growing, too. The airport keeps getting bigger, making room for more people and adding new flights to more places. If you need to fly to or from Central Texas, this international airport is a good choice, giving you a modern and easy way to travel.

4. Dallas Love Field (DAL) – Southwest’s Mainstay

Dallas Love Field (DAL) is right in the city of Dallas. It is an important airport with a special focus. This airport is the home base for Southwest Airlines, which is one of the biggest low-cost airlines in the world. Because of this, many people look to Love Field when they want to fly for less money and go to top domestic destinations.

If you need airports in Texas that have low-priced airlines, you should look at DAL first. The airport mostly sends flights to other places in the United States. That makes it very popular for travel inside the country. It has one terminal. The design of the terminal is easy to understand. Most people say it is simple to move around in and get where you need to go.

DAL is not as big as DFW, which is a nearby airport. But Dallas Love Field still gets a lot of travelers. The airport is a great choice if you want to fly within the United States. It gives the friendly service and low prices that people expect from Southwest Airlines and other commercial airlines at Love Field.

5. San Antonio International Airport (SAT) – Serving South Texas

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is the main airport for San Antonio. It also serves the larger South Texas area. This international airport is on the list of airports in Texas. It brings in millions of visitors each year. Many people come for work or to see places like the Alamo or the River Walk. The airport helps connect the city with the rest of the United States and even parts of Mexico.

There are two main terminals at San Antonio International Airport. They are set up to help with the busy passenger traffic. People can find flights to many cities across the United States and some in Mexico. This makes it easy for the region to stay in touch with other big places in North America.

This international airport is important for South Texas and the state of Texas. It gives people a good way to travel. If you start your trip here or land to enjoy the culture in San Antonio, you get a welcoming and smooth experience. The airport is not too big, which makes travel less stressful. Many travelers like this, especially when they compare it to bigger airports like Dallas or Houston.

Exploring Regional & Local Airports Across Texas

Texas does not only have big international airports. The state also has a wide network of smaller airports that help people get around. These places, like El Paso International, help connect cities and towns that are far from larger areas. You can find what you need to know about these airports with guides like this one.

The Federal Aviation Administration watches over these airports. This way, people living in El Paso, Amarillo, McAllen, and other parts of Texas get good air travel options. In the next sections, we will look closer at regional airports like these and see what they offer.

6. El Paso International Airport (ELP) – Amenities & Connections

El Paso International Airport (ELP) is the largest commercial airport in West Texas, serving as a vital travel hub for the region. Located in El Paso, it provides essential connections for a large geographic area, linking passengers to top domestic destinations. El Paso International ensures that this part of the state remains accessible for both business and leisure.

While amenities vary by airport, travelers at ELP can expect services designed for convenience as it handles over a million passengers annually. The airport connects to major hubs, allowing for easy transfers to international flights.

To give you an idea of the scale of Texas airports, here is a look at some of the busiest ones by passenger volume. This table helps illustrate where El Paso International fits into the state’s busy aviation landscape.

Airport Name	City	Annual Enplanements (2015)
Dallas-Fort Worth International	Fort Worth	31,589,839
George Bush Intercontinental	Houston	20,595,881
Dallas Love Field	Dallas	7,040,950
Austin-Bergstrom International	Austin	5,797,562
El Paso International	El Paso	1,381,392

7. Spotlight on Low-Cost and Regional Airports in Texas

Texas has a good number of airports that help people save money when they fly. Many who look for cheap flight tickets find an option at Dallas Love Field (DAL). Another place that is good for people who want to fly with a low-cost airline is William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston. It is one of the major hub spots for less expensive flights. This airport is a good choice for those who do not want to use George Bush Intercontinental or want to fly within the country.

There are also quite a few regional airports in Texas. Many commercial airlines use these airports, and they try to give you low prices. These airports are managed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The main goal is to keep every airport safe and working well. These airports play an important role to connect different towns and let more people fly.

Some of the regional airports with cheap flight choices are:

McAllen Miller International (MFE)
Rick Husband Amarillo International (AMA)
Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF)

Conclusion

To sum up, Texas has many airports that fit what travelers need. It does not matter if you want to fly out of the country or you just want to connect with other parts of the state. You can pick big airports like Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or smaller ones like Austin-Bergstrom. Every airport has something special to offer. Some have more stores, while some have faster check-in. Knowing the main things about each place will help you pick the best one for your trip.

When you get ready for your next trip, think about what you learned here. It will help you move around the Texas and Fort Worth air travel world without trouble. Have a good flight! If you need more help, just ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many commercial airports are there in Texas?

Texas has the most airports in the country. There are 393 public-use airports listed for Texas. Out of these, 24 airports get service from big commercial airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration is in charge of this big system. This way, all the airports in Texas meet the right safety and running rules.

Which Texas airport is best for international flights?

For international flights, the main choices are Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. These are the biggest international airports in the area. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is where American Airlines is based. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the Houston spot for United Airlines. Both airports give you many ways to fly to countries all over the world.

What are the differences between Dallas Fort Worth and Houston airports?

The big difference between these two airports is which airline uses them the most. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas is the biggest hub for American Airlines. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston is the main hub for United Airlines. This means the routes you can take and any flyer perks may change. It just depends on if you like American Airlines or United Airlines.