West Houston Airport

Houston, United States

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KIWS

ICAO

111 ft

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AirlinesAirports profile

Houston's general aviation hub serving the western metro area.

Location

Houston, United States

West Houston Airport (IATA: IWS, ICAO: KIWS) is a public general aviation airport located in Houston, Texas, United States. It serves private pilots, charter flights, and flight training operations rather than scheduled commercial airline service. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Houston and falls under the management of the Houston Airport System alongside Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. It provides an important reliever function for the greater Houston metropolitan area's aviation needs. Situated on the western side of the city, the airport supports a range of fixed-base operators (FBOs), aircraft maintenance services, and recreational flying activities, making it a vital hub for the region's general aviation community.

Getting to & from

Ground access to West Houston Airport is primarily by private vehicle or taxi, as no dedicated public transit service directly connects the airport to the broader Houston metro area.

Notable facts

›West Houston Airport is classified as a general aviation reliever airport, easing traffic at Houston's larger commercial airports.
›The airport is managed by the Houston Airport System, which also oversees George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports.
›It features multiple runways capable of accommodating a variety of piston and turboprop general aviation aircraft.
›The airport supports numerous flight schools and aircraft rental operations serving student and private pilots.
›IATA code IWS is assigned, though the airport does not handle scheduled commercial passenger service.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Airlines serving this airport

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City & Place Guide

Space City blends Southern charm, world-class culture, and bold cuisine.

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and a global hub for energy, medicine, and aerospace. Its skyline rises dramatically from the flat Gulf Coast plain, while its neighborhoods pulse with some of the most diverse communities in the country.

Visitors find world-class museums, a thriving theater district, and legendary barbecue and Tex-Mex scenes. The city sprawls across more than 600 square miles, so planning is essential, but the rewards — from NASA's Johnson Space Center to Hermann Park — are well worth the effort.

•Space Center Houston — walk through NASA history and see real rockets and mission control
•The Museum of Fine Arts Houston — one of the largest art museums in the United States
•Hermann Park — green oasis with a Japanese garden, paddle boats, and the Houston Zoo
•Buffalo Bayou Park — scenic urban park ideal for kayaking, cycling, and skyline views
•The Menil Collection — free world-class modern and surrealist art in a quiet neighborhood
•Discovery Green — lively downtown park hosting free concerts, markets, and outdoor events

Getting around: Houston is car-centric and very spread out, making a personal vehicle or rideshare the most practical option for most visitors. METRORail offers a light-rail system connecting downtown, the Museum District, and NRG Stadium, while local buses cover broader routes. Lyft and Uber are widely available, and taxis can be found at hotels and airports.

Best time: October through April offers the most pleasant weather, avoiding Houston's intense summer heat and humidity.

Local food: Try beef brisket at a local pitmaster joint, Tex-Mex enchiladas with chili gravy, Gulf Coast Gulf shrimp, and kolaches from the city's beloved Czech-Texan bakeries.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Encyclopaedia

West Houston Airport is a privately owned, public use airport in Harris County, Texas, 15 miles west of Downtown Houston in the Greater Katy area. It opened in 1962 and was known as Lakeside Airport until the early 1980s due to its location near the edge of Addicks reservoir.

Read full article on Wikipedia