Airports In Austin: How Many Are There?

Austin, Texas, has two airports that serve a considerable number of flights each day. One is a major international airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the other is a smaller alternative public aviation facility, Austin Executive Airport.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

History

In the 1970s, as the old Robert Mueller Airport was becoming too small, Austin considered building a new airport. The idea of a joint regional airport with San Antonio was proposed but rejected. In 1991, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission selected Bergstrom for closure, and the city decided to convert it into a civilian airport. Construction began in 1994, and the new airport opened on May 23, 1999, replacing Robert Mueller Airport as Austin's main airport.

Facilities and Services

The airport has two runways, three helipads, and 34 gates. There are two terminals: the main Barbara Jordan Terminal and the South Terminal, designated for low-cost airlines. AUS serves flights to over 70 destinations, including international flights to London, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Panama City, and Toronto. The airport offers a range of facilities, including restaurants, shops, retail stores, lounges, and free Wi-Fi. It also features a live music stage showcasing local artists and an art exhibition in the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

Accessibility

Austin Executive Airport

Austin, Texas, has two airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport. This answer will focus on the latter.

Like Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin Executive Airport offers a general aviation service for the public. It also provides first-class and business-class facilities for its passengers and pilots. The airport is located around 14 miles from Austin's city centre, further out than Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This is because it is geared towards jets and small aircraft, most of which are privately-operated or corporate-operated flights. Despite its size, Austin Executive Airport has been a base for more than 90 aircraft.

The airport is highly accessible thanks to the toll roads that make it easy to reach from anywhere in Austin. From the University of Texas at Austin, it takes just 20 minutes by car. You can even access it directly from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Although it is small, Austin Executive Airport does not lack facilities. It offers several onsite restaurants, free wi-fi, and comfortable seating areas for pilots and passengers. Pilots can enjoy exclusive amenities such as a lounge, quiet rooms, weather rooms, and personal entertainment halls. Some Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) at the airport also have conference rooms available for rent for meetings and events. The Henriksen Jet Center, one of the airport's FBOs, is often ranked as the top FBO in Texas. It operates 24/7, making it convenient for anyone needing an urgent flight.

Barbara Jordan Terminal

The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the main terminal of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. The airport is about five miles southeast of downtown Austin and is the third busiest in Texas. It is named after Barbara Jordan, an American politician and civil rights activist who was the first African American to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.

The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the largest of the airport's two terminals, with 34 gates spread across two long concourses. The terminal is semi-oval-shaped, with ticketing and baggage claim located in the centre and the concourses at either end. The terminal has a split-level roadway with curbside drop-off and pick-up on both the upper and lower levels. The upper level is for ticketing and departures, while the lower level is for baggage claim and customs and immigration facilities for international arrivals.

The terminal has a variety of shops and restaurants, both before and after security. There are also lounges, including the Admirals Club and the United Club, which can be accessed with a day pass. The terminal also has a live music stage, featuring performances by local artists, which reflects Austin's reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World".

The Barbara Jordan Terminal offers various ground transportation options, including rental cars, ride-sharing services, shuttles, and the Capital Metro Route 20 bus, which runs to downtown Austin. The terminal is also accessible by car via TX-71.

South Terminal

The South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is a secondary terminal that serves ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. It is located on the south side of the airport perimeter and has a separate entrance from Burleson Road. The South Terminal cannot be accessed from the main airport entrance or the Barbara Jordan Terminal, and a shuttle bus connects the two terminals, with the journey taking around 15 to 20 minutes.

The South Terminal at ABIA has a unique, retro look, and its three gates are hardstands without jet bridges. Passengers board the aircraft by walking through a covered walkway and descending stairs. The terminal was built at a cost of $12 million by LoneStar Airport Holdings under a 40-year lease. It reused a building from the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, adding outdoor waiting areas and a food truck retail area.

The South Terminal is scheduled for demolition as part of the airport's expansion plans. This decision led to a lawsuit from LoneStar Airport Holdings, which argued that the airport was violating the lease agreement and that they had invested $50 million in building and operating the terminal. In 2023, a court ruled in favour of LoneStar, and the airport agreed to pay $88 million to break the lease.

The South Terminal plays a crucial role in accommodating the rapid growth of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is the third busiest airport in Texas and the 27th busiest in the United States by passenger traffic. With the addition of the South Terminal, ABIA can better manage the increasing demand for air travel in the region.

ABIA's expansion

The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, also known as ABIA (IATA: AUS, ICAO: KAUS, FAA LID: AUS, formerly BSM), is Austin's primary airport. It is a fast-growing airport that serves the Greater Austin metropolitan area and is located about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin. The airport covers 4,242 acres of land and features two runways, three helipads, and 34 gates.

ABIA has undergone several expansions and developments to accommodate the increasing travel demand and the city's growing population and economic importance. Here is an overview of the expansion projects:

Terminal Expansion:

• The Barbara Jordan Terminal: Named after Barbara Jordan, a prominent civil rights activist and politician from Texas, this terminal is the main terminal at ABIA. It originally had 18 gates but was expanded to 24 contact gates during construction. In 2019, nine additional gates were added, bringing the total to 34. The gates are spaced farther apart to accommodate larger aircraft, and the number of flexible-use gates capable of handling international and domestic flights increased from two to six.
• The South Terminal: A smaller, secondary terminal with three gates, built at a cost of $12 million by LoneStar Airport Holdings under a 40-year lease. This terminal is used exclusively by ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. It features outdoor waiting areas and a food truck retail area. However, as part of the airport's forthcoming expansion, the South Terminal is scheduled to be demolished, leading to a lawsuit from its operator.

Infrastructure Upgrades:

• Customs and Immigration Facility Expansion: In 2015, the terminal's first expansion project included enlarging the customs and immigration facility on the arrivals level. The expanded facility can now process more than 600 passengers per hour, enhancing the efficiency of international travel through ABIA.
• Security Checkpoint Expansion: The 2015 expansion also included enlarging the security checkpoint on the ticketing level, improving the flow of passengers and reducing potential bottlenecks during peak travel times.
• New Arrivals and Departures Hall: As part of the "Journey with AUS" expansion program, plans are underway to construct a new arrivals and departures hall that will consolidate ticketing, security screening, and baggage claims under one roof. This centralized hall will streamline the travel experience for passengers.
• Concourse B Construction: Another key component of the "Journey with AUS" program is the construction of Concourse B, which will initially feature 20 gates but can be expanded to up to 40 gates in the future. This new concourse will be connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal (renamed Concourse A) via an underground tunnel, with the potential for future expansion to a Concourse C.

Ground Transportation Improvements:

• Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line: Through the Project Connect plan, ABIA is set to become the southern terminus of the Blue Line light rail, providing a direct connection to Downtown Austin and The University of Texas. The estimated construction cost is $1.3 billion, and the project was approved by voters in November 2020.
• Consolidated Rent-a-Car Center (ConRAC): A consolidated rent-a-car center (ConRAC) has been built in a parking garage connected to the Red Garage. This facility houses ten rental car companies and can service up to 5,000 vehicles per day, making it more convenient for passengers to access rental car services.
• Ground Transportation Center: Part of the ConRAC's ground floor serves as a "Ground Transportation Center," providing passengers with easy access to taxis and ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. This centralized location improves the convenience and efficiency of ground transportation options for travellers.

Frequently asked questions