Lois Larson
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA/AUS) is located in Austin, Texas, United States, and serves the Greater Austin metropolitan area. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the country. It is named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, an officer and reservist in the 19th Bombardment Group, who was the first Austinite to be killed in World War II.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Austin–Bergstrom International Airport |
| Acronym | ABIA |
| IATA Code | AUS |
| ICAO Code | KAUS |
| FAA LID | AUS |
| Former Code | BSM |
| Location | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Distance from Downtown Austin | 5 miles (8 km) |
| Area | 4,242 acres (1,717 ha) |
| Runways | 2 |
| Helipads | 3 |
| Owner | City of Austin |
| Operator | City of Austin |
| Year Opened | 1999 |
| Year of Latest Expansion | 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is owned by the City of Austin
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA/AUS) is owned and operated by the City of Austin. The airport is located in Austin, Texas, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Austin, and covers 4,242 acres (1,717 ha) of land. It has two runways and three helipads and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States.
The airport is built on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in the early 1990s. The base was 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. After the base was decommissioned, the land reverted to the City of Austin, which decided to use it to replace the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport as the main airport for the city.
The City of Austin hired John Almond, a civil engineer, as the Project Director for the new airport, which had a budget of $585 million. The issue of a $400 million bond referendum for the new airport was put to a public vote in May 1993 and was approved by 63% of the vote. Groundbreaking for the new airport began in November 1994, and construction started in October 1995. The airport opened to the public in 1999, on May 23, with a 12,250-foot (3,730 m) runway, one of the nation's longest commercial runways.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is currently undergoing a major expansion program, entitled "Journey With AUS," to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. The expansion includes the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall, as well as a new concourse with 20-40 gates. The airport is an important economic engine for Central Texas, providing over 74,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
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The airport is named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, often abbreviated to ABIA, is an international airport serving the Greater Austin metropolitan area in Texas, United States. The airport is named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, a reservist officer in the 19th Bombardment Group who was killed in action at Clark Field in the Philippines in 1941.
Captain John August Earl Bergstrom was the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II. He was 34 years old at the time of his death. Bergstrom was a graduate of Texas A&M University. Following his death, the Del Valle Airfield was renamed the Bergstrom Army Airfield in his honour in March 1943. When the Air Force became a separate military branch from the Army in 1947 or 1948, the base was renamed Bergstrom Air Force Base.
The base was decommissioned in the early 1990s, and the land was returned to the city of Austin. The city then used the site to build a new airport, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, which opened in 1999. The airport is one of the fastest-growing in the United States and is an important economic hub for Central Texas, providing tens of thousands of jobs in the region.
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It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the US
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, or ABIA, is indeed one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. It is located in Austin, Texas, about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin, and covers 4,242 acres of land. The airport has two runways and three helipads.
The airport's history dates back to the early 1940s when the Del Valle Airfield was activated on land leased from the City of Austin. In 1943, it was renamed the Bergstrom Army Airfield to honour Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, a reservist in the 19th Bombardment Group who was killed during World War II. In the 1990s, with Austin outgrowing the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, the city began considering options for a new airport. After facing challenges and lawsuits with initial plans to build a new airport near Manor, the city ultimately took over the Bergstrom Air Force Base in the early 1990s to serve as Austin's main airport.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin and plays a significant role in the region's economy, providing over 74,000 direct and indirect jobs in Central Texas. The airport has been undergoing a major expansion programme, "Journey With AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. This includes the addition of outdoor waiting areas and a food truck retail area, and the development of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, which houses most airlines.
The airport has also seen a notable increase in private jet travel, with a 4.9% increase in private jet departures in 2024 compared to 2023, further contributing to its status as one of the fastest-growing airports in the country.
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The airport replaced Robert Mueller Municipal Airport
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located in Austin, Texas, replaced the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport as Austin's main airport in 1999. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States.
The history of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport can be traced back to the early 1990s when the Bergstrom Air Force Base was decommissioned, and the land reverted to the city. The city of Austin had been considering options for a new airport as early as 1971 due to the increasing air traffic and the limitations of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport.
In 1976, the city proposed joint use of the Bergstrom Air Force Base with the United States Air Force, but this proposal was rejected in 1978 as it was deemed too disruptive to the Air Force's operations. In the 1980s, neighbourhoods around Mueller exerted political pressure, forcing the city council to choose a new site for the airport. In 1987, voters approved a site near Manor, but this plan faced legal challenges and opposition due to environmental concerns.
In 1991, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission selected Bergstrom for closure, and the city received approval to convert the land and runways for civilian aviation use. Construction on the new airport began in November 1994, and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officially opened on May 23, 1999, with the commercial service at Mueller ending on May 21, 1999.
The new airport featured a long commercial runway, the Barbara Jordan passenger terminal, and ample parking infrastructure. The airport has become an economic engine for Central Texas, providing tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region.
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It is located about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is located about 5 miles southeast of downtown Austin, in the US state of Texas. 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, who served in the 19th Bombardment Group and was the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II. The airport stands on the site of what was once Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in the early 1990s. The land was then reverted to the city, which used it to replace Robert Mueller Municipal Airport as Austin's main airport in 1999.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one of the largest airports in Texas, with direct links to major cities across the United States. It covers 4,242 acres and has two runways and three helipads. The airport is the third busiest in Texas, after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston–Intercontinental, and ranks 27th in the United States by passenger traffic.
The airport has a 20-year plan, known as the AUS 2040 Master Plan, which was finalized in 2019. As part of this plan, the airport recently broke ground on two new concrete parallel midfield taxiways, which will support the development of a new 20+ gate concourse. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport also recently received $39.1 million in federal funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to support near-term and long-term improvements.
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Frequently asked questions
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is located in Travis County, Texas, USA.
The airport serves the Greater Austin metropolitan area. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States and is a major economic driver in Central Texas.
All airlines except Allegiant and Frontier operate from the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. Allegiant and Frontier passengers use the South Terminal.
