Southwest Airlines’ president and CEO, Gary Kelly, and Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, have officially opened the new international terminal at William P Hobby Airport.

Indeed, both were on hand yesterday to assist with the boarding process for the first international flight from the new complex, Southwest Airlines flight 305 to Cancún.
The $156 million project was fully funded by Southwest Airlines and completed on schedule and under budget.

The City of Houston is funding roadway improvements and building a new garage, the first phase of which will open later this autumn, to accommodate the additional international passengers.
The five-gate facility will accommodate regional international flights for Southwest, with services to the Caribbean, Mexico and the northern cities of South America.
The facility is Southwest’s first international terminal in its 45-year history.

"Our roots run deepest in Houston, one of our original Southwest cities, where our friendly people offer reliable service at low fares and help make Southwest the airline that now flies more travellers in the US every day than any other carrier," said Kelly.

"It's a fitting place to firmly plant our investment to connect Houstonians and millions of Southwest customers who will pass through this facility to what's important in their lives across a growing list of international service options."