The George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, in Huston, Texas is, out of the country’s top ten airports, the fastest growing one, according to a survey by the United States Department of Transportation. Taking up over 10,000 acres of land, IAH is the second largest airport in the State of Texas, after the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the eighth busiest airport in North America, and according to Airports Council International, it was the 16th busiest airport in the world in 2008, a position which it also held the previous year. IAH has separate airport terminals and is 22 miles from Downtown Huston. Convenient shuttles and public transportation can take people to and from.
Last year, IAH boasted almost 42 million passengers. The airport is the biggest hub for Continental Airlines, who launched an average of 700 departure flights a day from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Curious fact about IAH: It was named after the 41st president of the United States and it is, to date, one of only three airports in America named after a person still living. The other two are the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage and the Norman Y. Mineta International Airport in San Jose, CA.
IAH had been scheduled to open its doors in 1967. However, the opening date was delayed until 1969 due to unexpected changes in the original construction design which resulted in cost overruns. The delay led R.F. Ball Construction, the original contractor hired for the job, to sue the city of Houston for $11 million. The city eventually won the dispute, and when the airport (called the Houston Intercontinental Airport, at the time) opened, it took on most of the traffic previously served by the William P. Hobby Airport. IAH did not get its current name until 1997.
IAH airport parking holds over 25,000 spaces. The rates are amongst the lowest in the country. IAH is part of the larger Houston Airport System (HAS). The Houston Airport parking system is also in charge of the Parking Cents facilities. These are economy parking lots located a few short minutes from the main airport terminals. Shuttles for passengers who park there are available for free.
If you are taking flight out and need a place to keep your vehicle, remember that IAH airport parking has numerous places to carefully take care of your car while away. Find those airport parking deals to save yourself a little money.
Ryan Frank is a 23 year writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/facts-on-iah-houston-airport-1080845.html