George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH) is one of Houston's two principal commercial airports, sitting 23 miles north of downtown. Commercial service is dominant — KIAH is a major United hub — and the field is generally not the Houston-area private aviation default. Charter and corporate traffic for the metro typically routes through KHOU (Houston Hobby, 7 miles southeast of downtown), KSGR (Sugar Land, 18 miles southwest), or KCXO (Conroe, 25 miles north), all of which offer dedicated FBO infrastructure and faster turns. The five runways at KIAH include two at 12,001 feet and one at 10,000 feet — substantial headroom for any current business jet, including transatlantic and transpacific departures at MTOW. Signature and Atlantic operate the principal private terminals. KIAH makes sense for private aviation primarily for international arrivals that need CBP on a major hub, large-cabin corporate movements from the energy-corridor companies headquartered north of the city, and VIP movements where the major-airport profile is preferred. Operational considerations include slot pressure, taxi delays at peak banks, Gulf Coast thunderstorms (April–October), and hurricane season (August–October). Field elevation is 97 feet, no density-altitude concerns. Ground time to downtown is 25–40 minutes; the Galleria is 30–45.