In 2025, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) advanced several major projects as part of its Journey With AUS expansion program, aimed at improving the passenger experience and preparing for future growth in Austin.
The year began with the groundbreaking of Phase 1 of the Yellow Garage on February 28. This seven-level parking structure will add about 3,000 spaces when finished in 2026. A second phase is expected to increase capacity to approximately 7,000 spaces by 2027, providing more convenient access for travelers. The project’s phased approach also allows for the removal of the Red Garage to make way for a new Arrivals and Departures Hall planned for completion in the early 2030s.
On May 12, construction started on the Atrium Infill Project. By filling open space above baggage claim, this project aims to create additional security screening and bag-check queuing lanes to ease congestion during busy travel periods.
June saw the completion of improvements to the International Arrivals area. According to airport officials, “The project maximizes flexibility within the existing International Arrivals space by adding more room for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing, increasing the number of booths and expanding passenger queuing areas.” New baggage carousels can now transition between international and domestic use.
On December 10, AUS completed upgrades to its Outbound Baggage Handling System. Checked luggage now travels along 1.5 miles of conveyor belts with a processing capability of up to 4,000 bags per hour.
Looking ahead to 2026, AUS expects several major projects under Journey With AUS—including both phases of garage construction and terminal expansions—to reach key milestones or begin new phases.
For ongoing updates about these projects, information is available at https://www.austintexas.gov/AUSJourney.
The City of Austin oversees municipal operations such as managing a budget exceeding $5 billion and employing over 16,000 staff members (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-city-managers-office). The city emphasizes diversity and inclusion as organizational priorities (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/vision-and-values), while maintaining high service ratings among large cities (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/vision-and-values). As Texas’ capital located in Central Texas along the Colorado River (https://www.austintexas.gov/resident/about-city-austin), Austin provides professional management across services like policy development and community initiatives (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-city-managers-office).
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