As our city is increasingly regarded as an international travel destination, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues to be a hotbed of activity. Since opening back in 1999, the airport, which replaced the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport where the current Mueller development now sits, has steadily welcomed more and more passengers until major expansion was necessary.
Last year saw the opening of the newly rehabilitated South Terminal, which caters to smaller, lower-priced airlines such as Allegiant and Texas Sky. Spring 2019 promises the completion of a $350 million, nine-gate expansion at the east end of the main Barbara Jordan Terminal.
Originally designed to serve 11 million travelers annually, the new gate additions will increase capacity to 15 million, which is expected to be sufficient through at least 2025. The extension will also add space for concessions, outbound baggage handling, airline offices and additional passenger amenities, including a large outdoor observation deck. Meanwhile, construction continues on a new 6,000 space parking garage located within walking distance of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, as well as on the new ABIA Retail Center, which is adjacent to the Hyatt Place Austin Airport hotel.
It turns out that this recent growth might be just the start of bigger things. According to statements from ABIA administrators, by 2030 officials hope to add another 20 gates in a separate terminal to be built parallel to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Another 12 gates would be planned for addition by 2040, meaning that after the full expansion, ABIA would be equipped to handle 31 million passengers annually.
Expanded capacity would enable more direct international and domestic flights, and new gates will be capable of processing Airbus A380s, the industry’s largest commercial airplanes, which to date have not been welcomed to Austin’s runways. Additional support infrastructure would also include more parking and passenger amenities.
To help passengers get to and from ABIA, the Texas Department of Transportation has offered more than $4.89 billion in funding to expand and maintain surrounding roads. How ABIA’s plan to relocate and expand SH 71 (the airport’s main access road) will figure into that, as well as how it will fund these ambitious plans, is unknown. What is certain is that airport construction won’t be ending anytime soon!