Owais Crawford
Yes, there is an airport in Austin, Texas. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, also known as ABIA or AUS, opened in 1999 and is currently undergoing a major expansion to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. The airport is located on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which operated during World War II and was named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, the first person from Austin killed in the war.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Austin–Bergstrom International Airport |
| Airport code | AUS |
| Previous name | Robert Mueller Municipal Airport |
| Year of opening | 1999 |
| Number of gates | 34 |
| Number of international gates | 6 |
| Number of nonstop flights from Dallas-Fort Worth | 42 |
| Number of arrivals and departures on a typical weekday | 550+ |
| Number of destinations | 97 |
| Length of the runway | 12,250 feet (3,730 m) |
| Location of the South Terminal | 8 miles from Barbara Jordan Terminal |
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What You'll Learn
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
The airport opened to the public on May 23, 1999, with a 12,250-foot runway, one of the longest commercial runways in the country. It replaced the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, which ceased operations in 1999. The Barbara Jordan Terminal, the airport's main terminal, was originally designed as an 18-gate facility but was expanded to 24 gates during construction, with an additional gate that does not have a jet bridge. As of 2024, the airport is undergoing a significant expansion programme, "Journey With AUS", to meet the rising demand for travel. The plans include the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall, as well as a new concourse with an initial 20 gates, which could be expanded to 40 in the future.
The Barbara Jordan Terminal has a semi-oval shape, with ticketing and baggage claim located in the centre and two long concourses at each end for arrivals and departures. There are three levels to the terminal, with ticketing on the upper level and baggage claim on the lower level, along with customs and immigration facilities. The terminal has a split-level roadway for curbside drop-off and pick-up, and ground transportation services are available just outside. The terminal also offers USB and standard power outlets in the departure areas and free Wi-Fi access.
The airport is the third busiest in Texas and the 27th busiest in the United States by passenger traffic. As of 2023, there are over 550 arrivals and departures on a typical weekday to 97 destinations in North America and Europe.
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Barbara Jordan Terminal
The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the main terminal of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is located in Austin, Texas. The airport is one of the fastest-growing in the United States and is currently undergoing a major expansion programme to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. The Barbara Jordan Terminal is the largest of the airport's two terminals, with a total of 34 gates, six of which are capable of handling international flights. The terminal was originally conceived as an 18-gate facility with a footprint of over 500,000 square feet, but it was expanded during construction to include 24 contact gates with jet bridges and one gate without a jet bridge, for a total footprint of 660,000 square feet.
The Barbara Jordan Terminal is semi-oval in shape, with ticketing and baggage claim located on the upper level, and curbside drop-off and pick-up available on both the upper and lower levels. The terminal has a live music stage where local bands perform, reflecting Austin's proclamation as "The Live Music Capital of the World". There are several restaurants and food concessions inside the terminal, most of which are located inside the secured gate areas. Additionally, there are shops and cafes located outside the secure area for visitors and early passengers.
The terminal has three security checkpoints that are located near the entrances to both concourses and in the middle of the central departure gates. The central departure gate area has nine gates, numbered 15 to 23, with an Admirals Club and a United Club located on the mezzanine level. The lower level of the terminal houses the customs and immigration facilities for international arrivals, as well as the baggage claim carousels and the airport lost and found office.
The Barbara Jordan Terminal is currently undergoing construction as part of the airport's expansion plans. The plans include the construction of Concourse B, which will be connected to the existing terminal via an underground tunnel, and the addition of a concourse connector, runway midfield taxi ways, checkpoint 3 remodel, and a west gate expansion. The airport also offers a consolidated rent-a-car centre in a parking garage northeast of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, providing access to ten rental car companies and accommodating up to 5,000 vehicles per day.
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Expansion plans
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is undergoing a major expansion program, called "Journey With AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. The expansion is funded by airport revenue bonds, revenue from rent and fees charged to airlines and other tenants, passenger facility charges, and Federal Aviation Administration grants. The program's overall scope and budget are still in development, but the city council has already authorized millions of dollars for various projects.
Chief among the expansion plans are two projects. The first is the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall, which will consolidate ticketing, security screening, and baggage claims in one building. This new structure, called the “Arrivals and Departures Hall” (A/D Hall), will serve as the primary pick-up and drop-off point for passengers. The A/D Hall will add about 12,000 square feet of floor space for check-in and security screening. The building will house airline check-in counters, domestic baggage claim, and concessions like stores and cafes. The A/D Hall will push the terminal north through the Red Garage and establish a new front door to the airport, with Presidential Boulevard rerouted and widened to handle increased traffic. The first 3,000 parking spaces will open in 2026, allowing for the removal of the Red Garage to make way for the A/D Hall expansion.
The second major project is the construction of Concourse B, which will include 20 gates initially, with the potential to expand up to 40 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 currently has 34 gates, six of which can handle international flights. In 2019, nine gates were added to the east end of the terminal, bringing the total number of gates to 43. However, the airport is already serving more than 22 million passengers per year and expects to reach 30 million by 2027. The new concourse will help elevate the airport's capacity to meet this demand.
In addition to these major projects, there are several shorter-term projects underway to create more space for passenger processing. One such project includes an 80,000-square-foot addition to the west end of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, as well as smaller upgrades like a renovation of the terminal's restrooms. Another project involves the design and construction of a surface parking lot in three phases to support the airport's long-term passenger growth. Once complete, the lot will include approximately 1,400 spaces.
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Nonstop flights
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, also known as ABIA or AUS, is located in Austin, Texas. The airport is named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, a World War II officer and the first person from Austin to be killed in the war. The airport opened on May 23, 1999, and is the third busiest in Texas, with more than 550 arrivals and departures on a typical weekday to 97 destinations in North America and Europe.
At the time of its opening, there were 42 nonstop flights every weekday operated by mainline jet aircraft from the two primary airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to Austin. In comparison, there were only 24 nonstop flights every weekday from the two primary airports serving the Houston area to Austin. American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines all offered nonstop flights between Dallas and Austin.
The Barbara Jordan Terminal, named after the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, is the airport's largest terminal and has a total of 34 gates, six of which are capable of handling international flights. The terminal has an upper and lower level, with ticketing and baggage claim located on the upper level and customs and immigration facilities for international arrivals on the lower level. The East Concourse has 13 gates, and the upcoming Concourse B will initially have 20 gates, expandable to 40 in the future.
The South Terminal, located about 8 miles from the Barbara Jordan Terminal, is used for domestic flights operated by Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. It is a small terminal with a quirky decor and tarmac access to aircraft. Passengers can ride a courtesy shuttle bus when connecting between terminals, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
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History
The history of Austin's airport began in the late 1920s when the Austin City Council requested that the Army Corps at Kelly Field in San Antonio send a pilot to identify a suitable site for a municipal airport. Claire Chennault, who later became famous as a World War II "Flying Tiger," recommended the Matthews farm tract, four miles northeast of downtown Austin. This recommendation became the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, named after a city council member who died while in service. The airport was officially dedicated on October 14, 1930, and the main terminal building was added in 1961, with expansions in 1983 and 1990.
As Austin's population grew, the Mueller Airport became landlocked in the middle of the city. As early as 1971, the city began considering options for a new airport. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed that Austin and San Antonio build a joint regional airport, but this idea was rejected by Austinites who did not want to drive halfway to San Antonio to catch a flight. In 1976, the city submitted a proposal to the United States Air Force for joint use of the Bergstrom Air Force Base, named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, an officer who was the first Austinite killed in World War II. However, the Air Force rejected the proposal as too disruptive to its operations.
In the 1980s, neighbourhoods around Mueller applied political pressure, forcing the city council to choose a new site for the airport near Manor. This plan was abandoned in 1991 when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission selected Bergstrom for closure and allowed the city to convert the land and runways for civilian use. The City of Austin hired John Almond, a civil engineer, as Project Director for the new $585 million airport. The issue of funding was put to a public vote in May 1993, with 63% of voters approving the project. Groundbreaking began in November 1994, and construction on the new airport building started in October 1995.
The Robert Mueller Municipal Airport was closed in May 1999, and the new Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) opened on May 23, 1999, with one of the nation's longest commercial runways. The Barbara Jordan passenger terminal was originally designed with 18 gates and later expanded to 24 gates during construction, with one additional gate without a jet bridge. The airport features a bronze sculpture of Jordan, the first major public artwork honouring the late Texas congresswoman. As of 2023, Austin-Bergstrom is the third busiest airport in Texas and the 27th busiest in the United States by passenger traffic, with more than 550 daily arrivals and departures to 97 destinations. The airport is undergoing a major expansion programme, "Journey With AUS," to accommodate the growing travel demand.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
AUS.
May 23, 1999.
Barbara Jordan Terminal.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston–Intercontinental.
