Discover Texas's 26 commercial service airports, including 3 of the nation's busiest hubs. With 87.8 million passengers at DFW alone and a combined 180+ million travelers statewide, Texas leads the nation in aviation infrastructure.
Texas is home to three of the nation's busiest airports, serving as critical hubs for both domestic and international travel.
📍 DFW Airport, TX (Between Dallas & Fort Worth)
The world's third-busiest airport by passenger traffic, DFW set a record in 2024 with 87.8 million passengers, marking a 7.4% increase from 2023 and the highest growth rate among the world's top three airports.
📍 Houston, TX (Harris County)
Houston's international gateway handled 48.4 million passengers in 2024, up 5% from 2023. As the 2nd largest U.S. gateway to Latin America after Miami, IAH connects Texas to the world.
📍 Austin, TX (Travis County)
One of the fastest-growing airports in the country, AUS served 21.8 million passengers in 2024, marking its second-busiest year on record. The airport is undergoing a $4 billion expansion to meet growing demand.
📍 San Antonio, TX (Bexar County)
SAT had its busiest year ever in 2024, welcoming 11.09 million passengers - nearly 4% higher than the previous record. The airport serves 45 destinations across the US and Mexico with 14 airlines.
📍 Dallas, TX (Dallas County)
Southwest Airlines' birthplace and headquarters, Love Field handled 16.9 million passengers in 2024. Southwest controls 96.5% of the market with 18 of 20 gates. An $800 million modernization is underway.
📍 Houston, TX (Harris County)
The only 5-star airport in Texas (2024 Skytrax Awards), Hobby served 14.6 million passengers in 2024. A $470 million expansion will add 7 new gates by 2027, primarily for Southwest Airlines operations.
Texas's regional airports serve key markets across the state, from the Permian Basin oil region to the Rio Grande Valley.
📍 El Paso, TX (El Paso County)
Focus airport for Southwest Airlines, serving 18 destinations with 9 airlines. Approximately 50 daily departures connect Far West Texas to major hubs.
📍 Midland, TX (Midland County)
Gateway to the Permian Basin oil region, serving 43 counties in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Record 740,000+ passengers in FY2024, with Southwest leading at 47.9% market share.
📍 Corpus Christi, TX (Nueces County)
Serving the Coastal Bend region with non-hub primary commercial service. Southwest reinstated seasonal Love Field service in 2024. Six gates with U.S. Customs access.
📍 Lubbock, TX (Lubbock County)
Hub for the South Plains region, served by Southwest, American, and United. Located 7.5 km from downtown Lubbock.
📍 Amarillo, TX (Potter County)
Serving the Texas Panhandle with connections to major hubs. Named after astronaut and Amarillo native Rick Husband.
📍 McAllen, TX (Hidalgo County)
Gateway to the Rio Grande Valley with strong cross-border connections to Mexico.
📍 Harlingen, TX (Cameron County)
Serving the Rio Grande Valley alongside McAllen, providing access to South Texas destinations.
📍 Brownsville, TX (Cameron County)
Southernmost airport in Texas, serving Brownsville and South Padre Island beach destinations.
📍 Laredo, TX (Webb County)
Important border crossing airport with strong Mexico connections and cargo operations.
Explore airports organized by Texas regions, from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast.
Texas airports are served by all major U.S. carriers plus numerous international airlines.
| Airport | Top Domestic Routes | International Highlights | Primary Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFW | Los Angeles (1.14M), Las Vegas (980K), Atlanta (968K) | Mexico (29 destinations), Europe (10+ cities), Asia-Pacific growing | American (81.9%), Frontier, United, Alaska |
| IAH | Major hub routes nationwide | Latin America #2 gateway, Mexico (5M), Central/South America (3.6M) | United (72%), Southwest, American |
| AUS | Strong growth to all major hubs | Expanding international service | Southwest, Delta (+25.6%), United (+11.1%), American |
| DAL | Southwest network nationwide | Limited international (mostly Mexico) | Southwest (96.5%), Delta, Alaska |
| HOU | Southwest domestic network | International and domestic mix | Southwest (29% system-wide), United, American |
| SAT | 45 US destinations | Mexico connections | Southwest, American, United (14 carriers total) |
| ELP | DFW, Phoenix, Houston, Las Vegas, Denver | 18 total destinations | Southwest (52%+), American, United, Delta, Alaska, Frontier |
Most Texas commercial airports offer TSA PreCheck expedited security screening. Here's the complete status by airport and terminal:
| Airport Name | TSA PreCheck Available | Terminals/Checkpoints |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) | YES | Terminals A, C, D, E (18 checkpoints total) CLEAR available at E8, E16, E18 |
| George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) | YES | All terminals (A, B, C, D, E - 9 checkpoints) |
| Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) | YES | AUS01, AUS02, AUS03, Terminal 2 South Main |
| Dallas Love Field (DAL) | YES | Southwest Main, Southwest Upper CLEAR enrollment since July 2024 |
| San Antonio International (SAT) | YES | SAT01, SAT02 |
| William P. Hobby (HOU) | YES | Central checkpoint |
| El Paso International (ELP) | YES | Consolidated checkpoint |
| Amarillo International (AMA) | YES | AMA30 |
| Corpus Christi (CRP) | YES | CRP01 |
| Lubbock International (LBB) | YES | LBBA |
| Midland International (MAF) | YES | MAFA |
| McAllen-Miller International (MFE) | YES | MFE01 |
| Valley International/Harlingen (HRL) | YES | HRL01 |
| Brownsville/South Padre (BRO) | YES | BROA |
| Laredo International (LRD) | YES | LRD 01 |
| Killeen-Fort Hood Regional (GRK) | YES | GRK01, GRK02 |
| Waco Regional (ACT) | YES | ACTA |
| San Angelo/Mathis Field (SJT) | YES | SJTA |
| Abilene Regional (ABI) | NO | ABIA |
| Tyler Pounds Field (TYR) | NO | TYR01 |
| Easterwood Field/College Station (CLL) | NO | CLL01 |
| Del Rio International (DRT) | NO | DRT |
| Victoria Regional (VCT) | NO | VCT01 |
| Gregg County/East Texas (GGG) | NO | GGGA |
| Jefferson County/Beaumont (BPT) | NO | BPT01 |
| Sheppard AFB/Wichita Falls (SPS) | NO | SPS01 |
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the busiest airport in Texas and the third-busiest airport in the world. In 2024, DFW served 87.8 million passengers, a 7.4% increase from 2023 and 17% above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. DFW also recorded 743,203 aircraft operations in 2024, ranking third globally for aircraft movements.
DFW is American Airlines' largest hub, with the carrier holding an 81.9% market share and operating over 605,000 flights annually from the airport. The airport serves 269 destinations worldwide, including 196 domestic and 73 international routes.
Texas has 26 commercial service airports with scheduled passenger flights, more than any other U.S. state. These range from international mega-hubs like DFW and IAH to smaller regional airports serving local communities.
Beyond commercial service airports, Texas has nearly 400 public airports and heliports total, according to the FAA. The state's comprehensive aviation infrastructure includes 387 public airports, 1,084 private airports, 548 heliports, 5 gliderports, 1 seaplane base, and 8 ultralight facilities.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is recognized as one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. Between 2019 and 2022, AUS experienced more airline seat growth than any other airport in the country. The airport's passenger growth is hitting forecasts five years ahead of schedule, driven by Austin's booming population and economy.
In 2024, AUS served 21.76 million passengers, making it the second-busiest year on record. The airport set a monthly record in May 2024 with 2.07 million passengers. To accommodate this rapid growth, AUS is undergoing the Journey With AUS expansion program, representing an estimated $4 billion investment in modernizing and expanding the airport's facilities.
Texas airports contribute significantly to the state's economy. According to the Texas Department of Transportation's Aviation Division, Texas airports provide an estimated 778,955 jobs statewide, generating approximately $94.3 billion in economic output annually.
Major Airport Economic Contributions:
Three major carriers dominate different Texas markets:
Other significant carriers include Delta (strong at Love Field and Austin with 25.6% growth in 2024), Frontier (22,000+ flights at DFW), and Alaska Airlines (growing DFW presence).
Texas airports generally showed strong growth in 2024, though results varied by airport:
Strong Growth:
Modest Changes:
Overall, Texas airports demonstrated resilience and recovery well above pre-pandemic levels, with most major hubs exceeding 2019 passenger counts by significant margins.
Texas airports, particularly DFW and IAH, offer extensive international connectivity:
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW):
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH):
Most major Texas commercial airports offer TSA PreCheck expedited security screening. Airports with TSA PreCheck include:
Major Airports: DFW (18 checkpoints in Terminals A, C, D, E), George Bush Intercontinental (9 checkpoints across all terminals), Austin-Bergstrom (4 checkpoints), Dallas Love Field (2 checkpoints with CLEAR enrollment), San Antonio (2 checkpoints), and Houston Hobby (1 central checkpoint).
Regional Airports with PreCheck: El Paso, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Midland, McAllen-Miller, Harlingen/Valley International, Brownsville, Laredo, Killeen-Fort Hood, Waco, and San Angelo.
Airports WITHOUT PreCheck: Abilene Regional, Tyler Pounds Field, Easterwood Field/College Station, Del Rio International, Victoria Regional, Gregg County/East Texas, Jefferson County/Beaumont, and Sheppard AFB/Wichita Falls.
2025 Update: Starting May 1, 2025, TSA PreCheck enrollment requires a REAL ID compliant driver's license/state ID or other acceptable form of ID (such as a passport). Starting May 7, 2025, travelers must have REAL ID or acceptable ID to avoid delays at checkpoints.
Several major Texas airports are undergoing significant expansion and modernization:
These expansions reflect Texas's continued population growth and the increasing demand for air travel across the state.
Choose your Texas airport based on your destination region:
For international travel, DFW and IAH offer the most extensive international route networks, with DFW serving 73 international destinations and IAH being the 2nd largest U.S. gateway to Latin America.
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Last updated on November 29, 2025