If you ask a Texan why the State of Texas is often referred to as “Lone Star State,” most often what you will get is a polite smile and direction to observe the wonderful flag of Texas with its big star and field of red, white and blue.
     The flag was adopted when Texas became the 28th USA state in 1845.
     The flag colors of both Texas and of the United States, depict blue for loyalty, white for strength, and red for bravery.
     Right now if you wonder which airport gateway has built itself up by the bootstraps and is fast growing to a condition of preeminence not only in the Lone Star State but across the entire Southwest as well, you can capture that knowledge in one word, Houston.
     At Air Cargo Americas last week in Miami, Florida there were lots of airports on display and even more cargo reps circling around the trade show floor, ambassadors without portfolio.
     But smack dab in the middle of all of the bells and whistles, Houston Airport System (William H. Hobby Airport, Ellington Field and George Bush International Airport, the gateway the world knows as IAH landed with perhaps the most exciting airport story of all.
     Right now airlines from all over the world are beating a path to the airport including carriers from Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
     Little wonder.
     During a time when most news media are blasting USA airports, these same journals can’t seem to say enough good things about Houston.
     As example, recently The Wall Street Journal wondered how IAH is bucking the trend and holding the line when it comes to on-time performance.
     The Christian Science Monitor on the other hand seemed puzzled at the growing number of air cargo exports from IAH.
          Rick Vacar, director of the Houston Airport System, offered some insight.
     “I explained to them that there are several reasons behind our ranking.
     “IAH is one of the few airports in the nation primed for significant growth.
     “Our 10,000 plus acre complex means we have room to grow.
     “We have been anticipating the needs of our growing cargo and passenger base and that led to construction of a fifth runway,” he said.
     So into the airport named George Bush International for the first President Bush, arrive some blue chip carriers, including recently launched services from EVA of Taiwan and right on the heels of connections to Asia will come one route all the way to the Middle East via high-flying Emirates of Dubai featuring B777’s opening an aerial highway to the UAE, December 3.
     That EK chooses IAH, as its second USA city connection to Emerald City DXB is no chump change deal either.
     Emirates had plenty of city choices knocking at the door, after building an unparalleled thrice-daily success, the greatest ever by any airline from New York City to the Middle East.
     “We are absolutely thrilled,” says Genaro Peña, Houston Airport System Director of Marketing.
     “Houston Intercontinental is now George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and William P. Hobby is the airport formerly known as Houston Municipal Airport.
      “Together these two airports serve well over 52 million passengers annually. IAH alone is considered the fourth-fastest growing airport in the world.
     “We have been very fortunate in benefiting from such positive traffic increases over the years, but we can’t deny that a large part of our growth has been due, in part to the central location of our city,” Richard Vacar points out.
     “The fact that our neighbors to the north and south are just a direct or nonstop flight away, make Houston a destination not to be ignored.”
     “Today several dozen air carriers offer access to more than 115 domestic and 73 international destinations from Bush and Hobby airports,” Mr. Peña confirms.
     “The all-inclusive transportation network that runs through the city moved a total of more than 347,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2006,” he says proudly.
     But at the same time the recipe on the stove is bubbling up, Genaro Peña is launching another dish about to be served up that will both blend in well while adding a distinct new flavor to Houston’s Southwest USA and Mexican dynamic.
     As mentioned, Emirates adds passenger and cargo service December 3.
     “We have been working closely with Emirates Sky Cargo; with Ram Menen and his team to make sure nothing is overlooked,” he says.
      “We are hands on all the way as the natural method to insure success.
      “Many air carriers consider Houston as primary gateway into the United States and the rest of the world.
     “IAH, for example, offers the highest number of weekly flights and serves the most Mexican destinations than any other airport in the United States.
     “What we are finding now is that many Asian and Latin American businesses are looking for better ways to converge their markets,” Mr. Peña explains.
     “Literally, since China Airlines and Korean Air Cargo inaugurated their services to Houston we have been getting a lot more inquiries about new routes.
     “Now with the open skies agreement between the United States and the European Union in effect, we are expecting several dozen more flights to Europe next year,” Genaro Peña notes.
     “Add to that the capacity problems that the airlines are running into at other more traditional international gateways and it’s easy to see why we are growing at this pace.
     “We think that the best is yet to come,” Gernaro Peña smiles.
Geoffrey Arend