Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials were correct when they predicted in December that 2023 would break 2022’s title for busiest year. Data released Feb. 12 shows that last year, over 22 million passengers traveled through ABIA, over a million more than in 2022.


Breaking it down

ABIA surpassed many of its own records in 2023, including:
  • Over 1.8 million travelers in December, marking it as the airport’s busiest December ever, up 5% from 2022
  • Over 43,200 passengers in one day Oct. 23, the Monday following Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, marking it as the busiest day ever
  • From the top 10 busiest days ever for ABIA, nine took place in 2023.
Airport officials say that some of the busiest times at ABIA include the summer and the days following major events, such as South by Southwest, Austin City Limits and Formula 1. In 2023, the busiest month of the entire year was July, with over 2 million passengers, about a 3.7% increase from July 2022.

Similar to 2022, Southwest Airlines was the busiest airline for Austin in 2023, with over 740,000 passengers, up almost 20%.


The action taken


As the Austin region grows, ABIA will be modernized and grow alongside it. The expansion and development program, which will span over multiple years, aims to address this.

In 2023, some of the progress made on projects under the program included:
  • Officials settled for $88 million in a lawsuit to begin the work toward the removal of the South Terminal, which will make way for a new 20-gate concourse, or area in which travelers pass through the airport, connected to the Barbara Jordan Terminal by a tunnel underground.
  • Officials broke ground on the West Gate Expansion project, which will add an extra 84,500 square feet for amenities by extending the terminal past gates 33 and 34 where Spirit Airlines is located.
  • Officials installed security screening equipment at checkpoints so that travelers can keep electronic devices in their bags.
  • Officials continued work on a jet fuel facility—anticipated to be completed this fall—and a new baggage handling system for outbound checked bags.
In 2024, travelers may see the start of construction on the following:
  • Improvements to the international facility that will include new baggage carousels and more queuing space
  • Two parallel taxiways to connect the east and west sides of the building
  • Ticketing-level atrium infill, which will fill in an open space with 13,000 square feet to avoid Transportation Security Administration lines from queuing outside
Travelers will also notice that a security checkpoint closed Feb. 5 until at least 2026 as part of the West Infill project, which will expand the checkpoint and add more space for travelers in addition to space for the new baggage handling system.

For more information, visit www.austintexas.gov/airport.