Disney-Designed Subway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Celebrates 45 Years
A unique transportation system at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston has reached a milestone: 45 years of service. The airport's Subway, built by Disney engineers, started operating on August 17, 1981.
The PeopleMover, as it was originally designed for Walt Disney World, was redesigned and replicated for the airport with environmentally correct linear induction motors in 1976. This led to WED Enterprises' ability to design transportation systems for real-world use.
A Disney executive who frequently traveled through Houston proposed building a new transportation system for the airport due to delays between terminals. After multiple proposals and a competitive bid process, WED Enterprises was selected in 1979 to build the Subway with the same lightweight vehicles and linear induction motors as the PeopleMover.
The two-mile-long transportation system has continued to be reliable, boasting a 99.76% reliability rate in 2025. Houston Airport officials praise the system's 'Disney magic,' describing it as 'a system imagined in Tomorrowland. Built on a promise.'