Last Sunday, Houston Airport faced a major traffic issue that left many travelers stranded in the parking garage for hours. KHOU 11 managing editor Bill Bishop took notice of the situation after receiving messages on social media. He quickly started investigating and found that numerous visitors were experiencing the same problem. Travelers shared photos and videos of the gridlock, with some reporting delays of up to two hours.

According to a news release by Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak, the delay was caused by a combination of factors. Peak traffic volume and an accident involving a vehicle and pedestrian at the exit of the Terminal C, D, and E garage were cited as the main reasons for the congestion.

In response to the incident, Szczesniak announced that affected parking customers would receive compensation. Those with reservations would be given a code for free parking on their next visit for up to three days. Customers without reservations can email a copy of their receipt to sgi.service@spplus.com to receive a code.

To prevent similar traffic backups in the future, Houston Airports implemented several measures this summer. These proactive steps aim to streamline traffic flow and minimize passenger inconvenience during peak travel times.

Were you stuck in the Bush IAH parking garage on Sunday night for more than an hour like this person? Houston Airports says this was due in part to it being a peak travel day. Also, a lot of international flights arriving in a short period of time. #khou11 https://t.co/rD3WdbDC1O

— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) August 12, 2024