Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's expansion is advancing with the recent and upcoming approvals of billions of dollars in contracts for various projects around the 25-year-old city airfield.

What's happening?

The "Journey with AUS" expansion program includes several projects at the airport spread over many years. Those include a new baggage handling system, facilities and passenger gates, various airfield upgrades, and the construction of new taxiways and a second terminal.

In July, City Council members approved about $190 million in contracts for improved airfield lighting, a ramp control system to improve aircraft safety, engineering services, and infrastructure upgrades.

Hundreds of millions more were recently approved, or are in line for votes, in September.


Aviation Department CEO Ghizlane Badawi called this summer period a "major milestone" for Journey with AUS, with significant upgrades like the new concourse and terminal enhancements that'll "deeply impact the passenger experience and symbolize the core of the entire expansion effort" moving forward.

By the numbers

During their Aug. 29 meeting, council members voted for more than $300 million in new spending, including:
  • An additional $155 million for construction of redesigned aircraft taxiways in the middle of ABIA's campus, plus an additional $6 million for architectural and engineering services in support. Badawi said project design began about two years ago, but has changed "considerably" since then. With those August contract revisions, both now total $346.7 million combined.
  • A $60 million authorization that allows several firms to offer architecture and engineering services for expansion projects.
  • A contract increase of $13.08 million, which will bring the total spending to $19.1 million for improvements to the airport's baggage handling system.
  • $72 million for the design of ABIA's new Concourse B midfield, and a new tunnel linking it with the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal. Construction funding will be awarded in the future, and the city anticipates federal funding support as well.
"This project is a cornerstone of the [Airport Expansion and Development Program] portfolio, representing one of the most ambitious and transformative endeavors in the history of AUS," Badawi said in a memo. "This project is not just about expanding [ABIA's] physical footprint, it’s about redefining how the airport serves the ever-increasing demands of travelers, airlines, and the entire airport community, ensuring that [ABIA] remains at the forefront."

What's next


In September, aviation officials said council will also consider the acceptance for hundreds of millions of dollars to support Journey with AUS alongside nearly $1.9 billion in contracts:
  • Receiving as much as $500 million in future state and federal grant funding for the ABIA projects
  • $1.03 billion for the Concourse B and tunnel project construction, awarded to Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
  • A $1.12 million contract for soil management to prepare the midfield area for new taxiways
  • An $865 million design and construction contract for a new arrivals and departures hall, which Badawi said will be among the most complicated of the upcoming airport projects
"This new hall is envisioned to be a welcoming gateway to Austin, combining modern architectural design with intuitive functionality to cater to the needs of millions of travelers annually," Badawi said. "By creating a larger, more comfortable environment, the project aims to reduce congestion and improve the passenger flow, which will be a substantial improvement for the millions of travelers who pass through Austin each year."