HOUSTON -- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will stop commercial flights beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. No airline service is expected to operate at IAH on Saturday. Southwest Airlines at Hobby Airport will stop flights at 9:00 a.m.

The Houston Airport System recommends that customers not go to the airports unless they have a confirmed seat and that they have also confirmed with their airline that the flight is still operating.

Continental Airlines is implementing a flight schedule reduction at its Houston hub at IAH for Friday and Saturday in anticipation of deteriorating weather conditions caused by Hurricane Ike. According to Continental, most mainline jet departures should operate normally until early afternoon on Friday. After that time, Continental does not expect to operate mainline jet flights at IAH. Continental Express and Continental Connection regional airline flights will be suspended earlier on Friday, starting between mid-morning and mid-day. No Continental, Continental Express or Continental Connection flight operations are expected at Houston on Saturday.

Southwest Airlines has also announced that it will suspend flight operations at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport starting Friday at 9:00 a.m. local time. Customers who are scheduled to fly in and out of Hobby Airport are advised to contact their individual airlines to determine when flights will resume.

Both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airports will remain open for emergency operations and essential activities only. However the airports will not operate as shelters.