休斯顿市航空总监马里奥·迪亚兹说 talked about the future of our region’s airports at the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual State of the Airports on October 22, 2021.

After a challenging year that's affected nearly every sector of Houston's global economy, Houston Airports is laying the foundation for a strong recovery in the years ahead. 

这是乐观的信息 休斯顿市航空总监马里奥·迪亚兹说 brought in his keynote address during the Greater Houston Partnership's State of the Airports on October 22. Diaz shared the outlook for the region's airports in front of an audience of roughly 500 people. He detailed how 2021 has been the year to "build forward better" by expanding Houston's global connectivity, improving airport infrastructure to better serve travelers and advancing plans for space exploration and innovation. 

新的和扩大的航空公司推动机场反弹

Diaz gave an overview of domestic airlines that have entered the Houston market, 还有那些在这里扩大517888九五至尊的公司. 太阳的国家, 例如, added service to Cancun from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Allegiant Airlines at Hobby Airport has grown to serve eight markets since they started in June last year.

Diaz also noted the big 新闻 from earlier this year when Southwest Airlines returned to IAH after a 16-year absence, 每天有18班，直达9个目的地. 

"We applauded the convenience Southwest Airlines now offers to passengers in Houston, 不管他们住在哪里,迪亚兹说. 

Diaz also noted the increase in requests from airline partners for gates, and anticipates Houston Airports will add 24 gates in the coming years, 其中17人在IAH, 7人在Hobby. 

"This will fuel our rebound and help us recover some of our non-airline revenue, which is critical for us to continue to expand our facilities and provide better experiences to our passengers,迪亚兹说, 添加家特许经营公司, parkin and other non-airline sales are heading in the right direction. 

IAH扩展计划将按计划完成

Diaz said the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP) underway at IAH has made significant progress in the last year. 1美元.3 billion international terminal program includes several projects, including construction of the new Mickey Leland International Terminal arrivals and departures hall, 联邦检查服务区, the new D West Pier that will accommodate more wide-body aircraft to connect Houston to the rest of the world and completion of renovations to the Terminal D concourse.

“这些项目非常复杂, 当我们建造的时候, 我们必须保持行动, 我们必须尽量减少对乘客的影响,迪亚兹说. "I assure you the dust we are making now will settle to reveal a world-class international gateway"

迪亚兹说，整个项目计划按时完成, beginning with the D West Pier in 2023 and renovations of the Terminal D concourse in 2024.

Diaz also noted infrastructure improvements happening at Hobby Airport with the intention of upgrading the travel experience for millions of people. The airport unveiled new "smart restrooms" in May featuring a modern design and built-in technology to ensure the restrooms are well-maintained and clean. 霍比机场的其他改进包括90,000 square feet of new quartz tile flooring and carpet in the central concourse, 还有一个1,300平方英尺的儿童游乐区和跨宗教教堂. 

主要航空航天公司在休斯敦航天港的发展势头 

The Houston Spaceport at Ellington Field is a catalyst for growth in Houston’s commercial space industry, 吸引大型创新公司作为主要租户:Axiom Space, 柯林斯航空航天和直觉机器公司.

“这些, 还有其他的, are the cluster of aerospace companies that will lead the nation in the transition from a government-focused to a commercially-driven space program,迪亚兹说. 

Each company is pursuing ambitious plans to ensure Houston retains its moniker as Space City. 去年12月，公理空间 宣布 it will build a 14-acre headquarters campus at the Houston Spaceport where the aerospace company plans to develop its Axiom Station, 世界上第一个自由飞行, 私人空间站. The project is expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the new campus. Just a few months later, Collins 航空航天, a division of Raytheon Technologies, 宣布 它计划在太空港建造一个新设施, 在占地8英亩的土地上建造了休斯顿首个航天孵化器, 120,000平方英尺的校园. 最后,休斯顿 直观的机器 is developing its Nova-C lunar lander to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX rocket. This will be the first mission back to the moon in over 50 years and will also be the first commercial mission ever by any country on this planet. 

Diaz noted the regional economic impact of these companies are critical. 

“在所有, this out-of-this world ecosystem will create nearly 13-hundred jobs in the next two to three years,迪亚兹说. "And we are ready to create a pipeline for the talent who will be at the forefront of the second space age — a trillion dollar industry." 

这包括参与 圣哈辛托学院EDGE中心 at Houston Spaceport to help interns and students catapult their aerospace careers. Diaz said Houston Airports is also in talks with Rice University, Texas A&米大学, 圣哈辛托学院, University of Houston-Clear Lake and Texas Southern University to create a cross-platform, 多学科的校园. 

"I'm thrilled at the momentum we have built at Houston Spaceport,迪亚兹说. 更多伟大的事情即将发生."

了解更多关于休斯顿的信息 航空航天及航空领域. 看到 最新的航空月报.