Journey With AUS Latest Updates
Jason Alexander & Bryce Bencivengo
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
History & Growth
Austin-Bergstrom History
The
original AUS was Robert Mueller Municipal Airport
Formerly Bergstrom United States Air Force (USAF) Base
● Named after first Austinite killed in action during World War II, Captain John August Earl Bergstrom
● Existed as the Del Valle Army Air Field prior to the creation of the USAF
Owned & operated by the City of Austin
● Open for commercial use in 1999
● $585 million budget
Bergstrom AFB – 1950s
AUS – A History of Growth
1999: Original terminal constructed
o 25 gates
o Designed to serve 11 million annual passengers
2017-19: Master Plan and Expansion
o Council approved 2040 Master Plan
o Terminal Expansion:
o 9 new gates – New total: 34 gates
o Designed to serve 15 million annual passengers
2020-21: COVID Pandemic and Business Impact
o AUS charts a new path forward on expansion due to air service slowdown and revenue uncertainty
2022-Beyond: Journey with AUS
o A new direction for our airport expansion and development program
AUS by the Numbers
4,242
Acre Campus
240 Average flights per day with more than 37,000 seats
8,000 Badged employees work at the Airport
20+ M
Passengers served the past four years
700 Employees at Austin Aviation
275M Pounds of cargo per year
AUS – Improving to Support Growing Region
159 net new residents per day
From 2020-2024, more than 93,405 new jobs announced by 774 new & expanding companies
(Source: Opportunity Austin, 2020-2024)
Home to major employers, events & Major League Soccer
2023-2024 Population Growth by Components of Change, Austin MSA
AUS – Growth and Current Reality
Passenger Volume: Holidays & Special Events
Rapid passenger growth post-pandemic
● In 2025: 21.7 million passengers served
● October 2025: Busiest month ever for total passengers - 2,086,037
30,000+ departing passengers on a Normal Day
35,000 –
40,000 departing passengers during Holidays/Special events
Current Reality at AUS
● Infrastructure and space is over capacity
● Passenger experience negatively impacted
● AUS employees maintaining service as best as possible
45,000+ departing passengers the day after 2025 Formula 1
8 out of the
Top 10 busiest days in AUS history occurred in 2024 & 2025
AUS is now classified as a large-hub airport
AUS has Achieved New Record High Passenger Levels
Annual Passenger Traffic (Millions)
AUS is the 4th Fastest Growing Airports among U.S. Large
& Medium Hub Airports
% Change in Seats: Q4 2025 v. Q4 2019
Passenger Experience
Concessions at AUS –
Expanded Shopping and Dining Options
Across from Gate 13
Austin Across from Gate 17
A-Go-Go Across from Gate 13
Ice Cream Across from Gate 21
Across from Gate 14
Zocalo
Berry
Sushi
Amy's
Hut's Hamburger's
Art & Music – Keeping it Weird since 1999
Live music
● 1,000+ music performances a year
Permanent Art
● Partnership with City of Austin Arts in Public Places Program
● 2% of Capital Improvement Project funding is earmarked for public art
Rotating Art
● 60+ different artists featured per year, usually local
Air Service News
Nonstop destinations
Average daily departures
Average daily seats available
AUS Airlines
AeroMexico Air Canada
Alaska Airlines
Allegiant Air
American Airlines
British Airways
Copa Airlines
Delta Air Lines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Lufthansa
Southwest Airlines
Sun Country
United Airlines
Viva
Frontier Airlines
WestJet
JetBlue
Spirit Airlines
New Service
• Grand Cayman (GCU) – May 2026
• Memphis, TN (MEM) – Launched May 2025
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX) – Launched May 2025
• Palm Springs (PSP) – Launched November 2025
• Bozeman (BZN) – June 2026
• Kalispell (FCA) – June 2026
• Fort Myers, FL (RSW) – March 2026
• Steamboat Springs, CO (SBS) – March 2026
• Santa Rosa, CA (STS) – October 2026
• Knoxville, TN (TYS) - October 2026
• Mexico City (NLU) – June 2026
Southwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Cayman Airways
Viva
Increased Frequency or Capacity
• London (LHR)– Increased to 2x per day in March 2026
• Indianapolis (IND) – May 2025
• San Francisco (SFO) – June 2025
• Tampa Bay (TPA) – June 2025
• Denver (DEN) – Nov. 2025
• Miami (MIA) – Nov. 2025
• Cancun, MX (CUN) – Dec. 2025
• Cabo San Lucas (SJD) – Dec. 2025
• Columbus (CMH) – June 2026
• Kansas City (MCI) – June 2026
• Ashville (AVL) – June 2026
• Miami (MIA) – May 2025
• Philadelphia (PHL) – May 2025
• San Diego (SAN) – June 2025
• Detroit (DTW) – June 2025
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Nov. 2025
• San Francisco (SFO) – Aug. 2025
• Palm Springs (PSP) – March 2026
• Cincinnati (CVG) – June 2026
• Seattle ( SEA) – June 2026
• Memphis (MEM) – October 2026
British Airways
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue
Frontier Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Our Destinations
Sustainability at AUS
AUS Environmental Stewardship
AUS airport operations and airport facilities are carbon-neutral
● Level 3+ Carbon Accreditation
○ Airports Council International - North America, 2020-2024
○ 1 in 8 North American airports
○ First medium-sized airport to achieve carbon neutrality
○ Maintained carbon-neutral achievement as large-hub in 2022
● LEED-certified buildings
● All new construction guided by Austin Energy Green Building
● Reclaimed water saves millions of gallons of potable water per year
AUS Challenges
Challenges facing AUS
Severe Weather & Climate Change
o Carbon neutrality
o Renewable energy
o Back-up generators & emergency plans
o Sustainable alternative fuels
o Design & construction resilience
o Additional multibillion construction programs in the Austin region
o Cost of living
o Labor and material shortages
o Airports are labor intensive because it’s a 24/7 operation
o AUS impacted by competition for aviation talent
o How do we make sure AUS is an attractive employer?
o Airport capacity and airline business models
o High-end processes, services, and Lounge space
o Evolving airplane fleets/specs that impact gate designs
o Hub and focus cities
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Expansion & Development Program
Airport Capital Funding: Key Sources*
Different revenue and funding structures with different restrictions
* Based on 2025 assumptions on capital spend and projected revenues.
Program Overview
Journey With AUS projects are developed through a five–phase process:
AUS Airlines – Future Gate Allocation
Short-Term Projects
International Arrivals Improvements
Completed: 2025
Project Team: Hensel Phelps/Page
New Outbound Baggage Handling System
Phase 1 Completed: 2024
Phase 2 Completed: 2025
Project Team: Whiting-Turner
West Infill
Completed: 2026
Project Team: Whiting-Turner/Gensler/ AECOM
West Gate Expansion
Anticipated Completion: 2026
Project Team: Hensel Phelps/Page
West Gate Expansion
Improvements
○ 3 gates
○ New concessions
○ Larger restrooms
○ Pet relief area
○ Sensory room
○ Public art
○ Playscape
○ New airline lounge
○ Outdoor public patio
○ Additional space for airline and airport operations
Anticipated Timeline
Build: Q2 2023 – Q2 2026
NEXT PHASE:
Atrium Infill
Anticipated Completion: 2026
Project Team: Whiting-Turner/Corgan
Atrium Infill
Latest Updates
○ This project will add an additional 13,000 sq ft of flex floor space on the departure level of the airport between the ticket counters
○ Will provide new space for security lines
○ Important project for the future layout of the airport
Anticipated Timeline
Design: Q2 2024 – Q2 2025
Build: Q2 2025 – Q3 2026
NEXT PHASE:
Enabling Projects
New Midfield Taxiways
Anticipated Completion: 2027
Project Team: Austin Bridge & Road/RS&H
New Midfield Taxiways
Latest Updates
○ Two miles of 2 new parallel taxiways and several smaller connector taxiways to support Concourse B and future concourses.
○ Two bridges under taxiways to maintain vehicle access to the Air Traffic Control Tower, firefighting, and service areas.
○ Airfield lighting, signage, and new taxi route for low-visibility conditions
○ New reclaimed water bulk refilling station
Anticipated Timeline
Build: Q4 2024 – Q2 2027
NEXT PHASE:
Yellow Parking Garage
Anticipated Completion: 2027
Project Team: PGAL/Austin Commercial
Yellow Parking Garage
Latest Updates
○ New garage in existing economy surface lot B area with a flexible design to deliver the project efficiently.
○ Garage is anticipated to be partially open in 2026, with full completion in 2027
○ Additional surface parking has been added to accommodate the closure of Lot B
○ Elevated walkway to connect the Yellow Garage to the Blue Garage to facilitate access to the terminal
Anticipated Timeline
Phase 1 to open
Build: Q1 2025 – Q2 2027
NEXT PHASE:
New Central Utility Plant (CUP)
Anticipated Completion: 2028
Project Team: JE Dunn/Jacobs
New Central Utility Plant (CUP)
Latest Updates
○ Project will construct a new Central Utility Plant to meet cooling and heating demand for new and existing facilities
○ Use increased thermal energy storage to reduce energy use during peak demand periods
○ Incorporate current technologies to increase overall plant efficiency
Anticipated Timeline
Design: Q4 2024 – Q1 2026
Build: Q2 2026 – Q2 2028
NEXT PHASE:
Utility Infrastructure Campus-Wide (UICW)
Anticipated Completion: 2028
Project Team: Sundt-Archer Western
Utility Infrastructure Campus-Wide (UICW)
Latest Updates
○ Expansion and enhancement of existing and construction of new utilities to meet the demands of the expanded airport
○ The new facilities will include:
□ Reclaimed water main extension
□ Storm drainage
□ Water quality and de-icing ponds
□ Hydronic piping (chilled and hot water)
□ Primary electrical power
□ Technology/telecommunication duct banks
Design: Q3 2024 – Q1 2026
Pre-construction: Q1 2025 – Q1 2026
Build: Q2 2026 – Q4 2028
NEXT PHASE:
Concourse M
Anticipated Completion: 2027
Project Team: Hensel Phelps
Concourse M
Latest Updates
○ Temporary gate hold room facility provides early gate capacity to enhance operational resiliency
○ Facility planned to include hold rooms, restrooms, vending machines, and circulation for arrivals and departures.
○ Gates will be accessed via bussing operations from the Barbara Jordan Terminal
Anticipated Timeline
Design: Q1 2025 – Q3 2026
Build: Q3 2026 – Q4 2027
NEXT PHASE:
Long-Term Expansion Projects
Concourse B and Tunnel
Anticipated Completion: Early 2030s
Pre-design conceptual rendering. Final design specifications and features subject to change as the project progresses.
Project Team: Hensel Phelps/Page/Fentress Studios
Concourse B and Tunnel
Latest Updates
○ Design and build of 26 new gates
○ Future phases will build a 40-gate
Concourse B
○ Central amenity node and vertical connectivity to tunnel
○ New concessions
○ Larger restrooms
○ Public Art
○ Additional space for airline and airport operations
New Arrivals & Departures Hall
Anticipated Completion: Early 2030s
Pre-design conceptual rendering. Final design specifications and features subject to change as the project progresses.
Project Team: SOM/Austin Commercial
New Arrivals & Departures Hall
Latest Updates
○ The new Arrivals and Departures Hall will serve as the new front door for the airport.
○ This project will include expanded ticketing and check-in areas, consolidated security checkpoints, additional tenant and concession spaces, and baggage claim areas.
○ Enabling projects will include the removal of the existing Red Garage and associated roadways and utilities.
Next Steps and Priorities
What Happens Next?
• Finish design phase for long-term projects including Concourse M, Arrival & Departure Hall, and Concourse B
• Significant experience changes for airport travelers that will require proactive, transparent communication to travelers.
AUS Priorities
• Maintain operational resiliency to keep AUS running effectively
• Move quickly on all improvements
• Manage expectations with the traveling public
Live Poll
Questions?
Thank You!