Exploring Austin: Multiple Airports, One Vibrant City

There are two airports in Austin, Texas: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport. The former is an international airport located about five miles from downtown Austin, while the latter is a smaller, alternative public aviation facility located about 14 miles from the city centre.

Austin has two airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport

Austin, Texas, has two airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the only international airport in Austin, and it is also the largest. It is located about five miles from the city centre in the southeastern part of the city. The airport covers 4,242 acres of land and has two runways and three helipads. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States.

The airport is named after John August Earl Bergstrom, the first Austinite killed in World War II. He served as a captain in the United States Army Air Force. The airport replaced the Robert Mueller Airport as Austin's main public airport in 1999.

The airport has two terminals: the main Barbara Jordan Terminal and the South Terminal, designated for low-cost airlines. It serves flights to over 70 destinations, including international flights to London, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Panama City, and Toronto. The airport offers various facilities, including restaurants, shops, retail stores, lounges, and free Wi-Fi. It is accessible by car and public transportation, including the Capital MetroRail train.

Austin Executive Airport

Austin Executive Airport is a smaller, alternative public aviation facility. It was first built in the 1960s and was known as the Bird's Next Airport until 2011. Ron W. Herikson invested $33 million of his own money to fund the airport's development, with a vision to establish a representative general aviation landmark for Austin. The airport is currently owned and operated by Travis County Field LLC.

The airport offers general aviation services and first-class and business-class facilities for passengers and pilots. It is located about 14 miles from the city centre in the northeast direction. It caters to jets and small aircraft, mostly privately-operated or corporate-operated flights. Despite its smaller size, Austin Executive Airport has been a base for more than 90 aircraft. It provides onsite restaurants, free Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating areas for pilots and passengers.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is named after John August Earl Bergstrom, the first Austinite killed in World War II

Austin, the capital city of Texas, has two airports: a major international airport called Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and a smaller alternative public aviation facility called the Austin Executive Airport.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is named after John August Earl Bergstrom, the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II. Bergstrom was a captain and officer in the United States Army Air Force. The airport was built on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was named in his honour.

Captain John August Earl Bergstrom was a reservist in the 19th Bombardment Group. He was killed at Clark Field in the Philippines in 1941. Following his death, the Del Valle Army Air Base was renamed the Bergstrom Army Airfield in March 1943. With the separation of the US Air Force and the US Army in 1947, the name changed once again to Bergstrom Air Force Base.

The base was decommissioned in the early 1990s, and the land was given back to the city of Austin, which used it to replace the Robert Mueller Airport as the city's main airport in 1999. The new airport was named Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The airport has 34 gates, six of which are for international flights

The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the only international airport in Austin, Texas. It is also the largest airport in the city, covering 4,242 acres of land. The airport has 34 gates in total, with six of these gates dedicated to international flights.

The airport's name honours John August Earl Bergstrom, the first Austinite killed in World War II. He served as a captain in the United States Army Air Force. The airport is located about five miles southeast of downtown Austin.

The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has two terminals. The main terminal is the Barbara Jordan Terminal, which has 34 gates. The second terminal is the South Terminal, designated for low-cost airlines and ultra-low-cost carriers.

The airport offers a comprehensive set of facilities, including restaurants, shops, retail stores, lounges, and free Wi-Fi. It also features live music performances by local Texas artists, showcasing the spirit of Austin as the "Live Music Capital of the World."

In addition to its international gates, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport provides flights to over 70 destinations across North America, served by more than 20 airlines. The airport has experienced significant growth in recent years, prompting expansion plans to accommodate increasing travel demand.

The airport is one of the fastest-growing in the US

Austin, Texas, has two airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport. The former is the only international airport in the city and is also the largest, covering 4,242 acres of land. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the US.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is undergoing a major expansion programme, entitled "Journey With AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. The airport is modernising and embarking on a series of long-term and near-term improvements, new facilities, and expansion projects to serve the growing number of travellers.

The airport's rapid growth is attributed to the population and economic importance of Austin, which have grown in recent years. As a result, airlines have been introducing new non-stop flights to the airport, causing dramatic growth in both passenger numbers and non-stop services.

The expansion plans include the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall, consolidating ticketing, security screening, and baggage claims under one roof. Additionally, the construction of Concourse B will include 20 gates initially, with the potential to expand to 40 gates in the future. This concourse will be connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal (to be renamed Concourse A) via an underground tunnel.

The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the airport's main terminal and has 34 gates, six of which handle international flights. The terminal features restaurants, shops, retail stores, lounges, and free Wi-Fi. It also offers a unique experience with traditional live music performed by Texas' local artists, showcasing the spirit of Austin as the "Live Music Capital of the World."

The South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is set to be demolished

The city of Austin, Texas, is home to two airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport. The former is the only international airport in the city and is also the largest, covering 4,242 acres of land.

The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has two terminals: the main Barbara Jordan Terminal and the secondary South Terminal. The South Terminal, operated by Lonestar Airport Holdings, is a standalone facility with its own entrance and parking lot, separate from the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. It is used by ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines due to its lower landing fees.

However, the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is set to be demolished as part of the airport's expansion plans. The City of Austin approved an $88 million settlement with Lonestar Airport Holdings to pave the way for the terminal's demolition and the construction of a new concourse. The new concourse, connected to the Barbara Jordan Terminal, is expected to accommodate 10 to 40 gates to manage the airport's rapid growth in passenger volumes.

The South Terminal's demolition was initially met with legal challenges from Lonestar Airport Holdings, which argued that the City of Austin violated the 40-year lease agreement signed in 2016. The company had invested about $50 million in building and operating the terminal. In 2023, a court ruled in favour of Lonestar, and the City of Austin agreed to the $88 million settlement, taking over the operation and management of the South Terminal.

As part of the transition, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines will be relocated to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. The South Terminal will remain operational until its demolition in 2025, allowing airlines, food vendors, and other businesses to continue serving passengers. The demolition is part of a broader $4 billion expansion plan for the airport, which includes adding three gates to the Barbara Jordan Terminal, constructing a 90,000-square-foot cargo facility, and upgrading the baggage handling system.

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