Airports In Austin, Texas: A Comprehensive Guide

There are 27 airports in Austin, Texas, including both public and private airports. The primary airport in Austin is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which is owned and operated by the City of Austin. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion program, entitled Journey with AUS, to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

There are 27 airports in Austin, Texas, both public and private. One of the major airports in the city is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin, with the Department of Aviation overseeing and managing all airport operations, development, and external affairs.

The airport's terminal reused a building from the Bergstrom Air Force Base, adding outdoor waiting areas and a food-truck retail area. The gates are hardstands, without jet bridges, and are used exclusively by ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. The airport is easily accessible, with clearly marked signs for drop-off and pick-up. There are no separate terminals, with 6 stations for different airlines.

The airport is served by Route 20, operated by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which departs from the arrivals level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal every 15 minutes. The route takes passengers through the East Riverside Corridor to Downtown and the University of Texas at Austin before heading east on Manor Road. The airport is also planned to be the southern terminus of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line light rail, with construction estimated to cost $1.3 billion and be completed by 2029.

Lakeway Airpark

In the late 1960s, the Ranch was purchased for the development of a comprehensive getaway resort, including golf, a marina, a lakeside hotel, and an airstrip for visitors. The Lakeway Company upgraded and lengthened the runway, and the Airpark was envisioned as a community amenity. However, when the original development plans failed, the project was acquired by Ross Perot, who sold off the properties separately. Today, the golf course is known as Live Oak, and the hotel/resort is the Lakeway Inn.

In 1995, the airstrip property was sold to a group that established Lakeway Airpark LLC, a non-profit corporation dedicated to managing the airport. Lakeway Airpark covers 15 acres (6.1 hectares) of land and sits at an elevation of 909 feet (277 meters) above mean sea level. It features a single runway, designated 16/34, with an asphalt surface measuring 3,930 feet (1,198 meters) in length and 70 feet (21 meters) in width. The runway has undergone extensions and improvements over the years, including an expansion in 1989 and end zone extensions in 2003.

As of 2010, there are 29 residences surrounding the airpark with attached hangars, along with four freestanding condo-style hangars and one large non-residential hangar on adjacent property. Lakeway Airpark briefly offered scheduled passenger airline service in the mid-1970s through Bee Line, a small commuter air carrier operating weekend flights from Houston-area airports.

Austin Executive Airport

There are 27 airports in Austin, Texas, both public and private. One of these is Austin Executive Airport. Unfortunately, that is all the information I could find about Austin Executive Airport.

Austin's main airport is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin, which also oversees and manages all airport operations, development, airline and aviation industry relationships, finances and external affairs. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion programme, entitled "Journey With AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. Construction and projects are underway in the Barbara Jordan terminal and on the airport property itself. The city of Austin is planning on adding a concourse connector, runway midfield taxi ways, a checkpoint 3 remodel, and a west gate expansion. The South Terminal is scheduled to be demolished as part of the forthcoming airport expansion, which led to a lawsuit from its operator, LoneStar Airport Holdings. The airport agreed to pay $88 million to break the lease.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened to the public on 23 May 1999. The terminal reused a building from the Bergstrom Air Force Base, adding outdoor waiting areas and a food-truck retail area. The opening of the airport coincided with a considerable number of nonstop flights being operated into Austin from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, as American Airlines decided to compete with Southwest Airlines' scheduled service between Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Austin.

Austin Airport transport links

The main airport serving Austin, Texas, is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (IATA: AUS). The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin, with the Department of Aviation overseeing and managing its operations, development, and relationships with the aviation industry. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion programme, entitled "Journey with AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. Construction projects include a concourse connector, runway midfield taxiways, a checkpoint 3 remodel, and a west gate expansion.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is easily accessible by various transport options. Route 20, operated by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, provides convenient connections to the city. The bus departs from the arrivals level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal every 15 minutes, taking passengers through the East Riverside Corridor to Downtown and the University of Texas at Austin before heading east along Manor Road.

For those travelling by car, the airport offers parking options, including covered garages and economy parking lots. The airport provides clear signage for drop-offs and pick-ups, making it convenient for passengers and their companions. Additionally, the airport is easily accessible via taxi and ridesharing services, offering a seamless experience for travellers arriving or departing from the airport.

Furthermore, as part of the Project Connect plan, there are future developments in the works to enhance the airport's transport links. The airport is planned to be the southern terminus of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line light rail, which will provide a direct connection to Downtown Austin and the University of Texas at Austin, extending as far north as North Lamar/US183. The Blue Line construction is estimated to cost $1.3 billion and may be completed as early as 2029.

In addition to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, there are several other airports in and around Austin, Texas. These include Lago Vista, Texas–Rusty Allen Airport, Hank Sasser Airport at Breakaway, Lakeway Airpark, Austin Executive Airport, Bud Dryden Airport, and Seidel Ranch Airport. These airports cater to private aviation and offer alternative options for travellers and pilots in the Austin area.

Airport expansion plans

Austin, Texas, has 27 airports, both public and private. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is undergoing a multi-year expansion, development, and improvement program called "Journey with AUS". The program aims to meet the current and future needs of the growing region while enhancing the passenger experience with a distinct Austin and Central Texas touch. The airport has secured $400 million in funding for expansion and development projects, with no local taxpayer dollars being used for funding.

The expansion plans include a new Central Utility Plant (CUP) to provide reliable heating and cooling for the airport. The CUP will feature chilled and hot water hydronic piping, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, control systems, and utility connections. The airport is also constructing a surface parking lot in three phases to accommodate long-term passenger growth, with approximately 1,400 spaces and improved drainage, lighting, and shuttle bus shelters.

One of the most significant projects is the $865 million extension of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, adding 370,500 square feet of space. This new structure, the Arrivals and Departures Hall (A/D Hall), will serve as the primary pickup and drop-off point, housing check-in counters, baggage claim, and concessions. The A/D Hall is expected to be operational by 2029, with the new concourse opening around 2030. The concourse will add a minimum of 20 gates, increasing the total to 54 or more, and will be connected to the main terminal by an underground pedestrian tunnel.

To accommodate the increased passenger traffic, the airport is also rerouting Presidential Boulevard, widening it to handle up to 43 million passengers per year and preparing for future growth beyond 30 million. The airport is also working on several shorter-term projects, such as adding 12,000 square feet of floor space for check-in and security screening by filling in the second-floor atrium overlooking baggage claim. These expansion plans demonstrate Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's commitment to enhancing capacity and improving the overall airport experience for travellers.

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