Austin airport to nearly double its number of gates
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An American Airlines plane lands at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Photo: Aaron E. Martinez/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
Austin officials have firmed up the money for a massive expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport — with plans to nearly double the number of gates.
Why it matters: An emblem of Austin's growth — and growing pains — the city-owned airport has long been ripe for expansion.
Catch up quick: The airport, which opened in 1999, is in the midst of an expansion that could cost upward of $6.5 billion.
- The federal government has committed at least $200 million to the project so far.
- The airport currently has 34 gates. Officials announced Wednesday that they'll add 32 more gates.
Driving the news: City officials said they inked new lease contracts with Southwest, Delta, United, American and Alaska airlines, along with FedEx, and UPS. The 10-year contracts will provide major revenue certainty for the airport as it embarks on the ambitious expansion project.
- The contracts spell out airline fees for runways, ticket counters, gates, baggage systems and aircraft parking positions, among other things.
- Airlines that are not signatories will pay per-use charges for those services.
Follow the money: City officials expect to pull in roughly $250 million in revenue from the airlines this fiscal year — more than half of its total revenue — and $275 million next fiscal year, according to a city budget document from August.
Zoom in: The money will help pay for the redevelopment of the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal, as well as:
- A new pedestrian bridge connecting parking garages and the rental car facility.
- A new and expanded baggage claim hall.
- A new centralized TSA security checkpoint.
- New expanded airline ticket counters.
- And the new gates, split between two new concourses.
The intrigue: The expansion keeps ABIA well ahead of rival San Antonio International Airport, which is also undergoing an expansion to give it up to 40 gates total.
- The two airports have competed for international flights and other routes in recent years.
What they're saying: The commitment from the airlines "provides the financial foundation we need to modernize our facilities, transform customer experience, and build the infrastructure needed to support Central Texas' continued growth for generations to come," airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi said in a statement.
- The airport expansion is "a tremendous economic opportunity for Austin — not only through the trades and construction jobs created during the buildout, but also through long-term jobs in concessions, airport operations, and airline services after the program is complete," Vanessa Fuentes, the Austin City Council member who represents the area, said in a statement.
What's next: The lion's share of the new gates won't open till the early 2030s.