Owais Crawford
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (IATA: AUS, ICAO: KAUS, FAA LID: AUS, formerly BSM) is an international airport in Austin, Texas, serving the Greater Austin metropolitan area. The airport is located about 12 miles from downtown Austin, covering 4,242 acres with two runways and three helipads. While Austin is known for its music, culture, and tech industry, the classification of its airport as big is subjective and depends on various factors.
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What You'll Learn
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's facilities
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, or ABIA, is located about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas, and covers 4,242 acres. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. It is also an economic engine in Central Texas, providing over 74,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
The airport is named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, an officer and reservist in the 19th Bombardment Group who was the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II. The site was previously Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in the early 1990s, and the land reverted to the city, which used it to replace the outdated Robert Mueller Municipal Airport as Austin's main airport in 1999.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has two runways, one of which is 12,250 feet long and is among the nation's longest commercial runways, and three helipads. The airport has two terminals: the Barbara Jordan Terminal, which is the main terminal with 34 gates, and the South Terminal. The Barbara Jordan Terminal has several restaurants and food concessions, most of which are located inside the secured gate areas. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion program, "Journey With AUS," to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand, which includes the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall, and Concourse B, which will add 20-40 new gates.
The airport is the third busiest in Texas, after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston–Intercontinental, and is ranked 27th busiest in the United States by passenger traffic. In 2022, the airport served over 21 million passengers, a dramatic increase from the 11 million passengers it served in 2015. This growth has been attributed to the introduction of new nonstop flights to the airport, such as British Airways' inaugural flight to London's Heathrow Airport in 2014, the airport's first scheduled transatlantic service.
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Passenger traffic
While there is no clear definition of what constitutes a "major airport", passenger traffic is a good metric to consider when evaluating an airport's size. Classic examples of large airports include Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), and Chicago (ORD), each serving tens of millions of passengers annually.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (IATA: AUS, ICAO: KAUS, FAA LID: AUS, formerly BSM) served over 21 million passengers in 2022, a significant increase from the approximately 11 million passengers it served in 2015. This rapid growth makes it one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. In 2023, the airport saw more than 22 million passengers, setting a new record. The busiest day on record was 23 October 2023, with more than 43,000 passengers. The spike in passenger totals was attributed to travellers leaving Austin after the F1 weekend, with other busy days occurring during SXSW, Spring Break, and the Austin City Limits music festival.
Despite its impressive growth, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is not as large as other major Texas airports in terms of passenger volume. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport processed over 73 million passengers in 2022, while George Bush Intercontinental Airport served over 33 million passengers annually. However, Austin's airport outperforms these larger airports in terms of passenger experience and efficiency, with shorter security lines and easier navigation.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has two terminals: the Barbara Jordan Terminal and the South Terminal. The Barbara Jordan Terminal has 34 gates and offers a consolidated rent-a-car centre (ConRAC) with ten rental car companies providing passenger service. The airport has two runways and three helipads, covering 4,242 acres, and is located about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin.
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Unique features
The unique features of Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) are largely defined by its character and efficiency. Although it may not be considered a "big airport", its charm, efficiency, and rapid growth in recent times make it one of the standouts.
One of the most distinctive features of the airport is its local flavour. On any given day, travellers can enjoy live music while dining on local specialities, such as brisket tacos from Salt Lick BBQ. This is the hallmark Austin experience, reflecting the city's reputation for great music and eclectic culture.
The airport is also known for its efficiency, with shorter security lines and a more navigable layout compared to larger airports. This efficiency is due in part to its relatively compact size, with two terminals, two runways, and three helipads. The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the main hub, with 24 gates equipped with jet bridges and one gate without a jet bridge. The South Terminal serves a more limited range of flights.
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport also has a unique history. It was built on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in the early 1990s. The airport opened to the public on 23 May 1999, with one of the nation's longest commercial runways, measuring 12,250 feet (3,730 metres). The construction of the airport cost $585 million, with an additional $400 million bond referendum approved by 63% of voters in May 1993.
The airport has continued to expand and improve, with ongoing expansions positioning it to support Austin's growth and development as a major U.S. city.
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Airport growth
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas is a prime example of airport growth. Initially a small airport, it has expanded rapidly and now serves over 21 million passengers annually, making it one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. This growth is a result of Austin's booming tech industry and its vibrant culture and music scene, which have attracted visitors and businesses alike.
The airport's expansion has been a response to the city's growing demand for air travel. In the 1970s, as Austin outgrew the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, there were proposals to build a joint regional airport with San Antonio. However, this idea was rejected by Austinites. A subsequent proposal to share an airbase with the United States Air Force was also turned down, this time by the Air Force. Finally, in 1987, voters approved a referendum to build a new airport near Manor, and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport was born.
The new airport opened in 1999 with a long commercial runway and the Barbara Jordan passenger terminal, featuring 24 gates with jet bridges and one without, totalling 660,000 sq ft. The airport has continued to expand, adding a second terminal and becoming the third busiest airport in Texas, after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston–Intercontinental.
Another example of remarkable airport growth is Singapore Changi Airport, which has seen unprecedented expansion in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing pre-Covid traffic volumes. The airport recorded 17.2 million passenger movements between January and March 2025, a 4.3% increase from the same period in 2024, and a 4.8% jump from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This growth is evident in its air cargo performance as well, with a 1.0% year-on-year increase in tonnage. Changi Airport has also expanded its global network, adding new routes to Chinese cities and reinstating services to Ningbo and Shantou.
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Austin's airport expansion plans
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, or ABIA, is an international airport in Austin, Texas, serving the Greater Austin metropolitan area. The airport is located about 5 miles from downtown Austin, covers 4,242 acres, and has two runways and three helipads.
Austin's airport has been undergoing rapid growth and improvements to support the city's trajectory into the future as a major US city. The airport's expansion plans, branded as "Journey with AUS", aim to meet the current and future needs of the growing region while enhancing the passenger experience. The expansion program includes over 60 individual projects, with a total budget of $4 billion.
One of the key components of the expansion is the $865 million terminal expansion project, which involves the construction of the new "Arrivals and Departures Hall" (A/D Hall). This standalone building will serve as the primary pickup and drop-off point for passengers, housing airline check-in counters, domestic baggage claim, and concessions. The A/D Hall will push the terminal north, requiring the rerouting of Presidential Boulevard to accommodate increased passenger traffic.
Another significant aspect of the expansion is the addition of Concourse B, which will add a minimum of 20 gates to the existing infrastructure. This project is part of the long-term "ABIA 2040 Master Plan" to accommodate 30 million passengers annually by 2037. The concourse was initially planned to open in the 2030s but is now expected to be completed around 2027 due to the airport's rapid growth.
The expansion program also includes several shorter-term projects to create more space for passenger processing. One such project involves filling in the second-floor atrium overlooking baggage claim, adding 12,000 square feet of additional floor space for check-in and security screening. Other short-term projects include the construction of a new Central Utility Plant (CUP) to provide heating and cooling for the airport, as well as the development of a surface parking lot to support the airport's long-term passenger growth.
The funding for the expansion program comes from various sources, including airport revenue bonds, revenue from rent and fees charged to airlines and other tenants, passenger facility charges, and Federal Aviation Administration grants. Importantly, no local City of Austin taxpayer dollars will be used to fund this expansion.
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Frequently asked questions
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (IATA: AUS, ICAO: KAUS, FAA LID: AUS, formerly BSM) is considered a major airport. It is located about 12 miles from downtown Austin, Texas, and covers 4,242 acres with two runways and three helipads. The airport is the third busiest in Texas, serving over 21 million passengers in 2022, and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has a local flavour, offering travellers a taste of Austin's culture through its restaurants, bars, and live music performances. The airport has 34 gates, full customs facilities, TSA Pre-Check, and Border Protection's Global Entry program. It is also known for its exceptional customer service, free Wi-Fi, and art exhibits.
The airport is easily accessible, located just 7.5 miles from the Austin Convention Centre. It offers a variety of transportation options, including major rental car companies, the Capital Metro Bus Line, and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft.
The airport finalized a 20-year plan in 2019, known as the AUS 2040 Master Plan, to guide its future development and growth.
