You’re likely all too familiar with the ‘people mover’ trains that shuttle passengers between terminals and to and from the concourses at various airports.
George Bush Interncontinental Airport (IAH) has that too. In fact it has two separate systems. The above-ground system that operates post-security is called Skyway and it takes passengers between Terminals A, B, C and D/E.
If you’ve got some extra time, you can tour the airport and do the full loop in about 9 minutes. (Keep an eye out for art along the way)
The one pre-security is called the the Subway and this system celebrated its 45th anniversary this month.
The IAH Subway transit system is unusual for it’s age. But also (mostly) because of its designers.
It was designed and built by the same team that created the WEDway PeopleMover that first rolled out at Walt Disney World in 1975.
(The team was named WED Enterprises and WED stood for Walter Elias Disney- better known as Walt Disney)
Just a year after it began taking passengers around Disney World, the theme-park transit concept was given the go-ahead to be used by ‘real’ cities for urban transit.
And that’s when IAH Airport jumped on board. The airport waved its acceptance wand and chose the Disney-designed system from those offered when and inter-terminal train project went out for bid.
The system was the right price. And it came with a bonus: when the IAH Subway opened in August 1981, MIckey Mouse and Donald Duck showed up for opening day festivities.
Next time you’re traveling through IAH, take a ride.
It won’t be fast – the maximum speed is 15 mph, versus 33 mph for the post-security Skyway.
And the complete loop, which includes Terminals A, B, C, D/E and the Houston Airport Marriott, take about 19 minutes.
But you’ll be riding on a vintage airport people mover that continues to get the job done.
Learn more about the IAH Subway history below.
