Roberta Aguirre
The old Austin airport was the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, which opened in 1930 and was located four miles northeast of downtown Austin. The airport was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927. Over time, the city of Austin outgrew the airport, and in 1999, it was replaced by the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base. The old Mueller Airport site has since been redeveloped, with only the control tower remaining as a remnant of the former airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert Mueller Municipal Airport |
| Former Name | Austin Municipal Airport |
| Location | Four miles northeast of downtown Austin |
| Year of Operation | 1930-1999 |
| Owner | City of Austin |
| Named After | Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927 |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Terminal Building | Dedicated on May 27, 1961 |
| Terminal Expansion | 1983 |
| East Terminal | Dedicated in April 1990 |
| Replacement | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
The old Austin airport was Robert Mueller Municipal Airport
The airport commenced operations on October 14, 1930, and was officially dedicated on the same date, with the main terminal building being dedicated on May 27, 1961. The terminal was designed to be a modern showplace for the new, faster aircraft. It featured a full-service restaurant, a passenger lobby, a newsstand, and a gift shop. The tower was known for its alternating light and dark blue porcelain panels.
In the 1950s, the airport experienced increased traffic, which strained the terminal and required longer runways to accommodate heavier and faster aircraft. This prompted officials to undertake an expansion project, lengthening the main runway and constructing a new passenger terminal and control tower.
By the 1970s, the city contemplated building a new airport due to issues with Mueller, including its location surrounded by residential areas and businesses, plane crashes in the vicinity, congestion, and overlapping airspace with the nearby air base. The search for a new location for Austin's airport was a significant issue in Austin politics.
In 1999, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport was closed, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was opened on May 23, 1999. The new airport was built on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which had been decommissioned in the early 1990s.
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It was located four miles NE of downtown Austin
The old Austin airport, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, was located four miles northeast of downtown Austin. It was originally known as the Matthews farm tract, and it was recommended as a suitable site for a municipal airport by pilot Claire Chennault, who later became famous with the World War II "Flying Tigers." The airport was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927.
The airport began operations on October 14, 1930, and by 1931, it was served by three airlines. During World War II, the airport was busy, and it even accommodated some trainees practicing landing Douglas C-47s due to congestion at a nearby air base. In the 1950s, airport traffic increased, leading to an expansion project that included lengthening the main runway and constructing a new passenger terminal and control tower. The new terminal, which opened in 1961, was hailed as a modern showplace for faster aircraft.
However, by the 1970s, Mueller Airport faced several issues, including being surrounded by residential areas and businesses, plane crashes in the vicinity, congestion, and airspace overlap with the nearby Bergstrom Air Force Base. These factors led the city to consider building a new airport. In 1999, Mueller Airport was closed, and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened in its place, located on the former site of Bergstrom Air Force Base.
Today, the former Mueller Airport site has been heavily redeveloped, with only a few remnants of the old airport remaining, including the control tower and a couple of hangars. The irony of the situation is that, as of 2003, some Austin leaders were lobbying for Mueller Airport to be reopened as a general aviation reliever airport due to the lack of adequate general aviation facilities in the area.
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The airport opened in 1930
The old Austin airport, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, opened on October 14, 1930. It was located four miles northeast of downtown Austin and was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927. The airport was owned by the City of Austin and was officially dedicated on October 14, 1930, with passenger flights available from the beginning. By 1931, Mueller Airport was served by three airlines, and a second runway was added in 1937.
During World War II, the airport was busy as some trainees practised landing Douglas C-47s at Mueller due to congestion at the nearby Del Valle Army Air Base. The airport also handled commercial flights, private pilots, and students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the University of Texas. In 1942, a building originally intended for a flying school was converted into a passenger terminal.
In the 1950s, as Austin grew and air travel became more popular, the airport underwent an expansion project to lengthen the main runway and construct a new passenger terminal and control tower. The new terminal, completed in 1961, featured a distinctive design with alternating light and dark blue porcelain panels. This expansion improved the airport's capabilities and allowed it to handle larger aircraft such as the Douglas DC-4.
By the 1970s, however, the airport faced challenges due to its location surrounded by residential areas and businesses. Safety concerns arose as plane crashes occurred in the vicinity, and the facility became congested. The limited space for expansion and overlapping airspace with the nearby Bergstrom Air Force Base led to the consideration of building a new airport.
In 1999, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport was closed, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened in its place. The new airport was built on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which had been decommissioned in the early 1990s.
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It was replaced by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 1999
The old Austin airport was the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, which opened in 1930. It was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927. The airport was located four miles northeast of downtown Austin.
By the 1970s, the city began to consider building a new airport due to issues with Mueller's location. The airport was surrounded by housing and businesses, and there had been plane crashes in the area. Mueller was also becoming congested, and its airspace overlapped with that of the nearby Bergstrom Air Force Base.
After several proposals for a new airport fell through, the city of Austin decided to transform the decommissioned Bergstrom Air Force Base into a commercial airport. The base, located in southeast Austin, had been home to the U.S. Air Force's aircraft reconnaissance fighter fleet during the Cold War. The new airport, named Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), opened on May 23, 1999, replacing Mueller Airport as Austin's main airport.
The construction of the new airport, which began in 1994, cost $585 million. ABIA is located about five miles southeast of downtown Austin and covers 4,242 acres, a significant expansion from Mueller's 711 acres. The new airport features two runways, including one of the nation's longest commercial runways at 12,250 feet, and three helipads.
The opening of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport coincided with an increase in nonstop flights into Austin, with 42 nonstop flights every weekday from the two primary airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. ABIA is now the third busiest airport in Texas and the 27th busiest in the United States by passenger traffic.
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The new airport was built on the site of Bergstrom Air Force Base
The old airport in Austin, Texas, was the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. It was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927. The airport was operational from 1930 until 1999.
As Austin was quickly outgrowing the old airport, the city began considering options for a new airport as early as 1971. The new airport was eventually built on the site of Bergstrom Air Force Base, located in Southeast Austin, eight miles from the Capitol. The base was named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, an officer who was the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II.
Bergstrom Air Force Base was home to the U.S. Air Force's aircraft reconnaissance fighter fleet. Following the end of the Cold War, the base was closed through the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Leading up to its closure in 1993, city leaders identified it as a potential site for Austin's new and improved commercial airport. After receiving passing grades from the Federal Aviation Administration, and with the support of Austin residents and the City Council, the City of Austin began transforming the military base into a commercial airport.
The new airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, opened on May 23, 1999, with one of the nation's longest commercial runways, measuring 12,250 feet. The airport is located about five miles southeast of downtown Austin and covers 4,242 acres, with two runways and three helipads. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Austin, with its ongoing budget covered by the businesses and people who use it.
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Frequently asked questions
The old Austin airport, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, was located four miles northeast of downtown Austin.
The old Austin airport, also known as Mueller Airport, began operations on October 14, 1930. It was named after Robert Mueller, a city commissioner who died in office in 1927. The airport was surrounded by neighbourhoods and businesses and, due to its aging infrastructure and congestion, the city began contemplating building a new airport as early as 1971.
By the 1970s, Mueller Airport faced issues with its aging infrastructure, congestion, and overlapping airspace with the nearby Bergstrom Air Force Base. The airport was landlocked and surrounded by residential areas, leaving no room for expansion.
The new Austin airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, opened on May 23, 1999, replacing Mueller Airport as Austin's main airport.
