wxman

Looks like Mayor Turner is working to secure direct flights to Africa, possibly three African nations. 

I wonder how Ethiopian did while they were here as far as passenger counts and if they were successful? Probably not being that that route didn't last long.

Direct flights from Houston to Africa may soon be a reality (chron.com)

Looks like a building that belongs in Phoenix--the height, color, design. No?

I believe Conroe Lone Star Executive is currently being explored for commercial flights as of last year.

1 hour ago, MrFubbles said:

The Space Center, Museum District, the Rodeo, Menil, Orange Show, Azalea Trail, Art Car Parade, U.S. Clay Court Championships, Rice, San Jacinto Monument, Wortham Theater, Bayou Bend, Memorial Park, Rothko, Rienzi, James Turrell, Tanker Surfing, Minute Maid, NRG, the Heights, Montrose, not to mention BBQ, kolaches, crawfish, Tex Mex, Viet, fried chicken, it goes on

And don't get me started on Galveston

👀 Mmk bro. If that’s what you think makes Houston exciting then more power to ya. There’s not a single person more than 30 miles out that would visit any of that. And if you have to include crawfish and fried chicken as part of the appeal, that does nothing but endorse my point. Houston is ghetto and lame with a sexy skyline. 

1 hour ago, monarch said:

^^^ much obliged @wxman for the very appealing, compelling, and intriguing sentiment.  i'd have to say that you are indeed correct upon most points.  however, may you please for the sake of GOD AND COUNTRY... please, point out just what is soooooo appealing about dallas over houston?  heck, i get austin, tx.  austin, IMO, is just so very beautiful with it's san francisco type rolling hills... along with lake austin and the such.  heck, i can even understand flat san antonio with it's alamo historical sentiment... along with it's gorgeous fan friendly riverwalk.  however, what is sooooooo appealing about dallas?  why do they keep winning over houston...?

I don’t think Dallas or Austin is all that either but what I will say is that Dallas certainly appears to be a nicer, cleaner city but that’s a fairly low bar to clear when compared to Houston. 

4 hours ago, monarch said:

^^^ houston is the FOURTH LARGEST city in USA.  yet, we literally have to BEG for a brand like the "W".  yet, we still cannot seem to get one.  houston is the largest city in the state of texas.  yet, austin/dallas both have their respective "W" brands... and san antonio is preparing to construct their "W" brand within the broadway corridor district.  yes, that's THREE W HOTELS within the major markets of texas... and houston just cannot seem to get one.  heck, if it wouldn't have been for TILMAN FERTITTA planning and constructing his very own SUPER LUXURY POST OAK HOTEL, we wouldn't even have this one.  i have literally been repeating myself for over a decade now while residing in our fair city of houston... "something is really the F*&K wrong with this city's hospitality picture".  i am simply torn with the same old tired and worn out excuses since they never really make and real sense.  our fair city seems to keep growing larger and more progressive.  yet, we seem to keep acquiring lesser and lesser.  meanwhile, austin/dallas/san antonio seem to keep acquiring more and more prestige within its overall hospitality industry.  HAIF houston... harbors some really smart/intellectual/dynamic/progressive minded patrons here.  we all are acutely aware of this very fact.  however, none of us (at least not yet) can really provide a comprehensive answer/sentiment to what is wrong with the houston hospitality scene.  somehow, i just can't seem to get it... what the F*&K is happening here...?    

Tongue-n-cheek comment here but...

Houston consistently ranks as one of the ugliest cities in America. I'd have to agree. What would draw people to Houston outside of business? The Space Center? Galveston? The Museum District? Those are very lame, mediocre "attractions" at best. I'm sorry but Houston has a horrific reputation for its endless billboards, traffic, sprawl, endless highways, graffiti, urban decay, and outside the skyline (which interestingly enough I think is one of the better ones in the US), it's a nasty place with stifling humidity. The beaches are probably the worst in all of North America. There's no mega-attractions here that people just have to see. We're a big city with not much to offer unless you like to eat out. 

I'm not saying this to shit on Houston. I'm from here. This place is home and I'd get super defensive really fast if somebody else crapped on it the way I have but Houston has made absolutely no effort to draw tourists here or to change its reputation. I doubt Houston will ever be a trip given away on the Price-Is-Right. 

If I was an investor or a developer, Houston wouldn't be a place I'd be looking to build a luxury brand. 

Couple more I took while taxiing…

Here’s a couple of updates of terminal D I took this morning on the train. Coming along!

Has IAH regained all the service/routes we lost during the pandemic?

What routes are we still waiting on to return? Sydney? Addis Ababa?

What routes/airlines are not likely to return? Ethiopian?

What new airlines will the new Terminal D likely attract? Maybe Virgin? China Airlines? Another European or Asian airline we haven't had previously?

What are the next major markets IAH is likely to service next that we haven't had before? I'd like to see Rome, Athens or Zurich. Maybe Melbourne or Johannesburg. 

Okay, Im done with the questions .

Looks like terminal A will get a $40 million dollar face lift and a 4 gate expansion.

renderings look decent!

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-s-IAH-set-to-modernize-expand-terminal-17441354.php

6 minutes ago, editor said:

I just told my wife about these flights, and the consensus is, "It's nice to live someplace where you can go someplace."

I see the flight to New Zealand is 15 hours.  Anyone know the length to Sydney?

It’s 17.5 hours. I’ve taken that flight and it’s every bit that long nearly to the minute.

Welcome back, Air New Zealand!

The flight will be three times weekly. Does anybody know what it was before the pandemic? Was it daily?

Air New Zealand restarts flights from Houston after over 800 days (houstonchronicle.com)

What other Int'l flights are we still missing? Has IAH-SYD restarted yet?

I feel like so many of these 30-ish story residential high rises look the same. It’s not grand but it’s not ugly. I just sort of feel so-so about most of the shit that has gone up in uptown/downtown. No?

On 5/26/2022 at 1:24 PM, Urbannizer said:

350,000 office building 2027 completion

https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/united-states/properties/for-lease/office/tx/houston/post-oak-boulevard/s120626819s120794583-l

So much for challenging Williams for dominance. 

2nd quarter of 2023 is a full year from now. This thing is likely to be cancelled, put on hold, and eventually value engineered down to a one story mattress firm by the time it actually breaks ground. Bet.

Is it fair to assume that based on the amount of elevators banks in the proposal of the office building that it will be taller than the one that's currently under construction? Seems like a large number of elevator banks--more than on the floor plan of the tower currently U/C.

Rumor mill is at it again--this time with Stephen leaving the Fox 26 station. No word on where he may be headed. Meteorologist Collin Myers (former 13) was spotted filling in this past weekend in Stephens place. Hmmm

https://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2021/05/blake-mathews-leaving-khou-11.html

Looks like it was true!

I'm hearing that Blake posted to his instagram story that he is leaving KHOU. No word on where he's going or when he's leaving. 

Looks like its rein as Texas' tallest building is on barrowed time. Really sad that a pint-sized city like Austin will soon hold the title of having the states tallest building. The amount of skyscrapers on the books for Austin is nothing short of amazing. It's like what Houston experienced 40 years ago that gave rise to the skyline we know today.

Did Houston permanently lose any routes or airlines during this pandemic? I see Houston no longer has a direct to Sydney. That's the one that stick out to me the most since I've been on that flight several times. Any others? Are they coming back?

Wow

Wow! Sexy AF

Can somebody explain to me the benefit of having one gate and two or three destinations from IAH when all your resources, planes, mechanics, operations are out of HOU? I mean don't get me wrong, I think it's great to have more traffic at IAH but from a business perspective, nobody thinks Southwest and IAH.