Austin’s airport expansion got a major boost Thursday, with the City Council approving $1.9 billion in contracts for the planned project.

The council signed off on all the major expansion projects on its September 26 agenda, according to a city press release. The approval will allow the design and construction of new facilities for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to move forward.

The council actions authorized the airport to enter into a contract with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill for the design and Austin Commercial for the construction of the Arrivals and Departures Hall and with Hensel Phelps Construction Company for the construction of a new gate midfield concourse with 20 gates.  The full expansion program will enable more nonstop flights to and from Austin, includes:

  • Concourse B: A new, 20-gate midfield concourse to meet the airport’s long-term passenger activity level demand, with modern boarding areas, ample concession spaces, and directly connected with the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Anticipated completion in 2030.

  • The Arrivals and Departures Hall: A new multistory building, north of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, will add expanded ticketing and check-in areas, consolidated security checkpoints, additional tenant and an expanded baggage claim area all roughly estimated to be completed in 2030.

  • Landside Improvements: Replacing the Red Garage with a new parking garage, surface lots and an improved roadway and a larger curbside for passenger drop-off to the new Arrivals and Departures Hall.

  • Airside Enhancements: Enhancing the airport's airfield with new parallel midfield taxiways to better connect our two runways and to support an efficient operation of Concourse B and future concourses.

  • Infrastructure Upgrades: Upgrading various critical airport utilities like a new Central Utility Plant to heat and cool an expanded AUS.

 The program, which the city brands "Journey With AUS,” represents a $4 billion investment. According to the press release:

A critical funding component of the program comes through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants. To date, the program has benefitted from more than $42 million in competitive and entitlement FAA funding, which would not be possible without the advocacy of our region’s elected federal delegation. Other funding sources for the program include current and future airport revenues, cash reserves and airport revenue bonds. As with all airport expenditures, the program does not receive any local Austin taxpayer dollars.

Some of that money will go to small, local businesses, according to the city, which says that "the Department of Aviation has completed more than 20 different solicitations in collaboration with the Small and Minority Business Resources Department and the Financial Services Department."

 “The work we are doing to transform our airport doesn’t stop at opening doors for more nonstop flights and an improved customer experience,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “This program will infuse approximately $437 million to small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses who will join this journey to modernize the Austin airport."