Southwest, United flights help hundreds of passengers out of Houston's closed airports

People and rescue boats line Tidwell at the east Sam Houston Tollway as rescues continue from flooding following Hurricane Harvey Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston. People and rescue boats line Tidwell at the east Sam Houston Tollway as rescues continue from flooding following Hurricane Harvey Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 116 Caption Close Southwest, United flights help hundreds of passengers out of Houston's closed airports 1 / 116 Back to Gallery

Southwest and United airlines helped hundreds of stranded passengers fly out of Houston on Sunday after commercial service had been suspended earlier in the day.

The six flights were approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Houston Airport System. The flights moved most of the 900 stranded passengers out of Houston, airport system spokesman Bill Begley said.

"This was an effort to do everything we could to lessen the impact of the storm on our passengers," Begley told the Chronicle.

Regular commercial service is still suspended at both airports.

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Southwest Airlines used five planes parked at Hobby Airport to fly 486 people to Dallas Love Field. A Southwest Airlines spokeswoman said the customers are staying overnight at a hotel in Dallas, and those traveling elsewhere will be booked on flights Monday.

Southwest flights out of Hobby are canceled at least through Tuesday. Twenty-five people remained at the airport, including 17 from Houston.

United Airlines used one plane to get 272 passengers to Chicago, where those travelers could catch flights to their destinations.

About 100 people remained at Bush Intercontinental Airport.