Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, or ABIA , is the main international airport in Austin, Texas, United States, serving the Greater Austin metropolitan area. Located about southeast of downtown, it covers and has two runways and three helipads.
The airport lies on the site of what was Bergstrom Air Force Base, named after Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, an officer who was the first person from Austin to be killed in World War II. The base was decommissioned in the early 1990s, and the land reverted to the city, which used it to replace Robert Mueller Municipal Airport as Austin's main airport in 1999. The airport is the third busiest in Texas, after Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston–Intercontinental, as well as the 27th-busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic. , there are more than 550 arrivals and departures on a typical weekday to 97 destinations in North America and Europe.
History
Beginnings
In 1942, the city of Austin purchased land and donated the land to the federal government of the United States for a military installation, with the stipulation that the city would get the land back when the government no longer needed it. This land became Del Valle Army Air Base, or Del Valle Airfield. Del Valle Airfield was activated on September 19, 1942, on leased from the City of Austin. The name of the base was changed to Bergstrom Army Airfield (AAF) in March 1943 in honor of Captain John August Earl Bergstrom, a reservist in the 19th Bombardment Group, who was killed at Clark Field, Philippines in 1941. He was the first Austinite killed in World War II. With the separation of the United States Air Force and United States Army in September 1947, the name again changed to Bergstrom Air Force Base. It would have this name until it was decommissioned in the early 1990s, with all military aviation ceasing in 1995 after more than 50 years.
By then, Austin had long since outgrown Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. Mueller had opened in 1930 and had not aged well. The city began considering options for a new airport as early as 1971, when the Federal Aviation Administration proposed that Austin and San Antonio build a joint regional airport. That idea was rejected, as few Austinites supported driving halfway to San Antonio on Interstate 35 to catch a flight. Afterwards, the city submitted a proposal to the United States Air Force for joint use of Bergstrom Air Force Base in 1976. The Air Force rejected the proposal in 1978 as being too disruptive to its operations.
In the 1980s, neighborhoods around Mueller applied enough political pressure to force the city council to choose a site for a new airport from locations under consideration. In November 1987, voters approved a referendum designating a site near Manor. The city began acquiring the land but faced lawsuits from the Sierra Club and others concerned about the Manor location and its potential environmental impact.
The plans to construct a new airport at the Manor location were abandoned in 1991 when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission selected Bergstrom for closure, and gave the nod to the city for the land and runways to be converted for use as a civilian airport. The city council decided to abandon the original plan to build the new airport near Manor, and resolved instead to move the airport to the Bergstrom site. The City of Austin hired John Almond—a civil engineer who had recently led the airport design team for the new airport expansion in San Jose, California—as Project Director for the new $585 million airport in Austin and to put together a team of engineers and contractors to accomplish the task. The issue of a $400 million bond referendum for a new airport owned and operated by the city was put to a public vote in May 1993 with a campaign managed by local public affairs consultant Don Martin and then-Mayor Bruce Todd and was approved by 63% of the vote. Groundbreaking for the new airport began in November 1994.
thumb|left|Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's air traffic control tower|220x220px
On October 23, 1995, with a $10 million budget and after the old tower, previously used by the US Air Force, was demolished, construction began on building Austin's tallest primary building () that houses air traffic controllers. The new tower, completed a year before then-current president Bill Clinton arrived with his entourage, enabled Air Force One to be granted clearance to land. This made the president the "first passenger" to arrive at the new airport.
The main Air Force runway, 17R/35L, was retained along with most of its taxiways, as its high weight rating and long length would facilitate service by large long-range airliners while reducing construction costs. Bergstom's original secondary runway, 17L/35R, was closed and partially demolished to accommodate new taxiway sections directly connecting 17R/35L to the new terminal. The remnants of the former runway are used as a service road and a parking area for a Boeing 727 used for emergency training. A replacement runway 17L/35R was built east of the terminal, along with a general aviation complex on the southern side of the airport. Most former military buildings, including the original control tower, were demolished and cleared to make way for the new terminal and parking facilities, although some hangars and parking tarmac to the south was retained, along with a section of tarmac to the northeast of the primary runway that became the foundation for the airport's freight terminal. Some existing bridges were converted for ground vehicle access-road use. Military housing in the northwest portion of the former base was leveled, but some of its roads now serve a Texas Department of Transportation service facility. Several Travis County facilities near the airfield, including the county correctional facility and sheriff's training academy, were unaffected by the conversion project.
Bergstrom had the location identifier of BSM until Mueller's final closure in 1999 when it took Mueller's IATA code of AUS.
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 had decided to compete with Southwest Airlines' scheduled service between Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Austin in addition to American and Delta Air Lines service between Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and AUS. At the time, there were 42 nonstop flights every weekday being operated with mainline jet aircraft from the two primary airports located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex to Austin. By contrast, this same OAG lists a combined total of 24 nonstop flights every weekday at this time from the two primary airports serving the Houston area, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), to Austin.
Recent history
As the population and economic importance of Austin has grown in recent years, airlines have been introducing new nonstop flights to the airport instead of routing passengers through existing hubs in Dallas and Houston, causing dramatic growth in both passenger numbers and nonstop service at Austin–Bergstrom. In March 2014, British Airways inaugurated a flight to London's Heathrow Airport. This was the airport's first scheduled transatlantic service.
The terminal's first expansion project was completed in the summer of 2015. It added an enlarged customs and immigration facility on the arrivals level capable of processing more than 600 passengers per hour, two domestic baggage claim belts, and an enlarged security checkpoint on the ticketing level. In 2019, a $350 million addition to the east side of the terminal added nine new gates, increasing the total number of gates from 25 to 34. These gates are spaced farther apart, to accommodate additional flights operated by larger aircraft. Gates 1 and 3 and Gates 2 and 4 are able to act independently of each other when accommodating narrow body aircraft, or as one gate's Door A and Door B in a dual jet-bridge configuration when larger, wide-body aircraft arrive providing boarding options. The number of flexible-use gates that can accommodate both international and domestic flights increased from two to six.
To accommodate rapid passenger growth amid construction at the Barbara Jordan Terminal a three-gate South Terminal opened on April 13, 2017. The terminal was developed by private operator LoneStar Airport Holdings under a 40-year lease agreement with the airport and built at a cost of approximately US$12 million. The facility reused a former Bergstrom Air Force Base building and included outdoor waiting areas and a food-truck court. Designed with a retro aesthetic, the terminal used hardstand gates without jet bridges, with passengers boarding aircraft via stairs under covered walkways. The South Terminal was used exclusively by ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. The terminal closed on March 31, 2026, ahead of a planned airport expansion project that called for its demolition. The closure led to litigation from LoneStar, which argued that the airport was violating their lease agreement and stated that it had invested approximately $50 million into developing and operating the facility. In 2023, a court ruled in favor of LoneStar, after which the airport agreed to an $88 million settlement to terminate the lease early.
Future
, Austin-Bergstrom is undergoing a major expansion program, entitled "Journey With AUS", to accommodate the rapid growth in travel demand. Chief amongst the expansion plans are two projects; the first being the construction of a new arrivals and departures hall that will consolidate all ticketing, security screening and baggage claims under one roof. Concourse B will be connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal (to be renamed Concourse A) via an underground tunnel, and the tunnel will be capable of expanding to a future Concourse C. There are several restaurants and food concessions inside the terminal, all but two of which are located inside the secured gate areas of the terminal. There are three airport lounges at the airport, these are run by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The terminal also has a live music stage on which local bands perform in keeping with the spirit of Austin's proclamation as "The Live Music Capital of the World".
Ground transportation
Route 20, operated by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, operates from the arrivals level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal every 15 minutes. The route takes passengers through the East Riverside Corridor to Downtown and University of Texas at Austin before heading east along Manor Road. Route 483 operates after midnight six days a week to provide late hours service through the East Riverside Corridor to Downtown.
Through the Project Connect plan, the airport is planned to be the southern terminus of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line light rail, which will run through the East Riverside Corridor to Downtown Austin and The University of Texas at Austin as far north as North Lamar/US183. Blue Line construction costs are estimated at $1.3 billion and may be completed as early as 2029. The project (Proposition A) was approved by voters on November 3, 2020.
The airport offers a consolidated rent-a-car center (ConRAC) in a parking garage northeast of the Barbara Jordan Terminal and connected to the Red Garage. Ten rental car companies have passenger service counters on the second floor of the ConRAC, which can service up to 5,000 vehicles per day. The facility opened in October 2015 and was built at a cost of US$162 million. A shuttle bus travels between the South Terminal and the ConRAC.
Part of the ConRAC's ground floor serves as a "Ground Transportation Center" providing passengers access to taxis and ridesharing companies including Uber and Lyft.
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| | Mexico City–Benito Juárez Toronto–Pearson <br/>Seasonal: Vancouver San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma
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| Allegiant Air | Cincinnati, Des Moines, Charlotte,
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| British Airways | London–Heathrow
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| Cayman Airways | Seasonal: Grand Cayman
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| Copa Airlines | Panama City–Tocumen
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| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San José del Cabo
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| Delta Connection | Cincinnati, Columbus–Glenn (begins June 7, 2026), Denver, Kansas City (begins June 7, 2026), Memphis, Nashville, Raleigh/Durham, Bozeman (begins June 13, 2026), Palm Springs
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| Frontier Airlines | Atlanta, Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Orlando,
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| JetBlue | Boston, Fort Lauderdale
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| KLM | Amsterdam
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| Lufthansa | Frankfurt
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| Porter Airlines | Toronto–Pearson
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| | Albuquerque, Cincinnati (begins June 4, 2026), Columbus–Glenn, Harlingen, Indianapolis, Memphis (begins October 1, 2026), Miami, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Knoxville (begins October 3, 2026), Montrose, Panama City (FL),
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| | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
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| WestJet | Seasonal: Calgary
|-
!scope="col"| Rank
!scope="col"| City
!scope="col"| Passengers
!scope="col"| Carriers
|-
| 1
| Atlanta, Georgia
|style="text-align:right;"| 629,640
| Delta, Frontier, Southwest
|-
| 2
| Denver, Colorado
| style="text-align:right;" | 615,520
| Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 3
| Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
| style="text-align:right;" | 569,510
| American
|-
| 4
| Los Angeles, California
| style="text-align:right;" | 426,710
| American, Delta, Southwest, United
|-
| 5
| Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
|style="text-align:right;"| 401,490
| American, Frontier, Southwest
|-
| 6
| Las Vegas, Nevada
|style="text-align:right;"| 400,730
| Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
|-
| 7
| Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois
|style="text-align:right;"| 372,520
| American, Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 8
| San Francisco, California
|style="text-align:right;"| 331,570
| Delta, Southwest, United
|-
| 9
| Orlando, Florida
|style="text-align:right;"| 328,490
| Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
|-
| 10
| Houston–Intercontinental, Texas
|style="text-align:right;"| 297,070
| United
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|+ Busiest international routes from AUS (October 2024 – September 2025)
|-
! Rank
! Airport
! Scheduled passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| data-sort-value="London–Heathrow, United Kingdom"| London–Heathrow, United Kingdom
| 239,062
| British Airways
|-
| 2
| data-sort-value="Cancún, Mexico"| Cancún, Mexico
| 197,580
| American, Southwest <!--DO NOT LIST ALASKA, SPIRIT, OR UNITED UNLESS THEY ADD SCHEDULED SERVICE TO CANCUN FROM AUS. SCHEDULED PASSENGERS DOES NOT INCLUDE CHARTERS OR IRREGULAR OPS -->
|-
| 3
| data-sort-value="Mexico City, Mexico" | Mexico City, Mexico
| 101,566
| Aeroméxico <!--DO NOT LIST AMERICAN OR UNITED UNLESS THEY ADD SCHEDULED SERVICE TO MEXICO CITY FROM AUS. SCHEDULED PASSENGERS DOES NOT INCLUDE CHARTERS OR IRREGULAR OPS -->
|-
| 4
| data-sort-value="Frankfurt, Germany" | Frankfurt, Germany
| 91,631
| Lufthansa
|-
| 5
| data-sort-value="San José del Cabo, Mexico" | San José del Cabo, Mexico
| 84,830
| American, Southwest <!--DO NOT LIST UNITED UNLESS THEY ADD SCHEDULED SERVICE TO SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO FROM AUS. SCHEDULED PASSENGERS DOES NOT INCLUDE CHARTERS OR IRREGULAR OPS -->
|-
| 6
| data-sort-value="Toronto–Pearson, Canada" | Toronto–Pearson, Canada
| 84,618
| Air Canada<!--DO NOT LIST AMERICAN, MESA, OR SUN COUNTRY UNLESS THEY ADD SCHEDULED SERVICE TO TORONTO FROM AUS. SCHEDULED PASSENGERS DOES NOT INCLUDE CHARTERS OR IRREGULAR OPS -->
|-
| 7
| data-sort-value="Amsterdam, Netherlands" | Amsterdam, Netherlands
| 71,878
| KLM
|-
| 8
| data-sort-value="Panama City, Panama" | Panama City–Tocumen, Panama
| 59,859
| Copa Airlines
|-
| 9
| data-sort-value="Monterrey, Mexico" | Monterrey, Mexico
| 38,339
| Viva
|-
| 10
| data-sort-value="Vancouver, Canada" | Vancouver, Canada
| 24,443
| Air Canada
|-
|}
Airline market share
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ Largest airlines at AUS<br/>(January 2025 – December 2025)
! Year
! Passengers
! Year
! Passengers
! Year
! Passengers
|-
|1999||6,644,482(a)||2009||8,220,898||2019||17,343,729
|-
|2000||7,642,341||2010||8,652,480||2020||6,472,579
|-
|2001||7,181,190||2011||9,085,203||2021||13,570,771
|-
|2002||6,720,668||2012||9,436,197||2022||21,089,289
|-
|2003||6,706,385||2013||10,027,694||2023||22,095,876
|-
|2004||7,238,645||2014||10,719,320||2024||21,762,904
|-
|2005||7,683,545||2015||11,902,874||2025||21,666,852
|-
|2006||8,261,310||2016||12,439,788||2026||
|-
|2007||8,885,391||2017||13,889,305||2027||
|-
|2008||9,039,075||2018||15,819,912||2028||
|}
Note:(a); Includes passenger totals at Robert Mueller Municipal Airport for January–May 1999.
Accidents and incidents
- March 1, 2002: During an instrument landing system (ILS) approach in bad weather, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, registration number N7236L, crashed on airport grounds and burned out after the pilot initiated a missed approach. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and single passenger were killed. The accident was attributed to "The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in a stall. Contributing factors were the low ceiling, fog, and the unforecast weather conditions."
- December 7, 2009: A Piper PA-46-500TP, registration number N600YE, impacted terrain near Mendoza, Texas, in a steep descending right turn during an ILS approach in low visibility, substantially damaging the aircraft and killing the pilot and single passenger. Immediately prior to the crash, an air traffic controller had instructed the pilot to perform a "combination of descending turns" and "heading changes [that] were rapid [and] of large magnitude..." Additionally, post-crash toxicological tests of the pilot found evidence of diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine. The accident was attributed to "The pilot's spatial disorientation, which resulted in his loss of airplane control. Contributing to the pilot's spatial disorientation was the sequence and timing of the instructions issued by the air traffic controller. The pilot's operation of the airplane after using impairing medication may also have contributed."
- May 7, 2020: An adult male pedestrian trespassed on the airport's runway 17R and was hit and killed by Flight 1392, a Boeing 737-700 operated by Southwest Airlines, as it landed. There were no injuries to passengers or crew, but the plane sustained damage to its left engine nacelle. The victim was not authorized to be on the runway at the time.
- February 4, 2023: FedEx Flight 1432 was attempting to land on runway 18L but had to abort and go around when Southwest Airlines Flight 708 was cleared for departure on the same runway and had already begun its takeoff roll. A subsequent tweet from the NTSB described the incident as a "possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airlines and FedEx." The planes were barely 150 feet apart.
References
External links
- Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (official site)
- SpottersWiki The Ultimate Airport Spotting Guide: Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
- Official maps