Houston Airports anticipates record-shattering July travel

If you're headed to the airport this week, brace yourself for heavy crowds.

State of play: This holiday period is expected to see an 8% increase in passengers flying through Houston compared with the extended Fourth of July holiday last year, per Houston Airport Systems.

• More than 1.9 million people are expected to fly through George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport combined from June 27 to July 8.

Why it matters: 2024 is on pace to be a record-setting travel year, with unprecedented numbers during spring break and Memorial Day travels and now an anticipated record-shattering July, Houston Airports said in a statement.

Flashback: Last July, a record 5.6 million passengers flew through Bush and Hobby airports combined.

By the numbers: July 7 (161,000 estimated passengers), July 8 (166,000 estimated passengers) and July 3 (159,000 estimated passengers) are expected to be among the busiest days at IAH this holiday.

Between the lines: A contributor to the record-breaking numbers is the utilization of larger aircraft. Airlines are "upgauging," meaning they're adding seats to existing jets or replacing smaller planes with larger ones.

• United Airlines, the largest airline in Houston, currently operates 490 daily flights out of Bush Airport. And as part of its United Next growth plan , over the next decade the airline intends to introduce more than 800 narrow and wide-body aircraft to its fleet nationally for domestic and international routes.

The big picture: Nearly 71 million people in the U.S. are expected to travel during the entire holiday period, per AAA .

• That means some 5.7 million more people will travel during the holiday this year compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019, making for congested roads and airports.

The bottom line: Arrive early, reserve parking and anticipate traffic , especially with terminals B and D under construction at IAH.